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DE - I think I would be looking first round draft pick here, AND a medium sized (maybe 2 year deal) on a free agent acquisition. No harm in having some depth and not putting pressure on a kid to be a starter week 1. I like how Bailey has played this year but he shouldn't be retained.
OLB - Ford is playing great and I hope it continues, but I don't think I would want to tag or retain him. He's doing a good job getting after the passer, but he's still a liability in coverage, the run game and also injury prone.
This one is a little too early to say, but I'm hoping one of Orchard Kpass and Speaks shows enough while Houston is injured that you feel okay rolling with one of them as your starter and maybe add some depth if there's a guy you like 2nd or 3rd round. I'm saying this without knowing Orchards contract situation.
ILB - I liked Ragland last year but he doesn't look healthy and even if he did he isn't a good pair with Hitchens. If O'Daniel gets some snaps and looks good, maybe you feel okay having O'Daniel and Sorenson but if you get nothing from O'Daniel this year you have to add there somehow. I have no idea what the FA market is like for coverage linebackers.
CB - I'm okay with how Scandrick is doing right now but I wouldn't bring him back. I also don't know about Nelson, I feel like I see some good plays and some bad ones from him every week. If he can be retained for the right price, I'd probably do it.
After that, we're getting into too many unknowns. If the coaching staff feel that Ward and Smith are worthy of getting snaps, maybe you just add in the draft if you get a shot at a guy you like in the 2nd or 3rd. Or if you aren't comfortable with Smith and Ward, maybe you look for a smaller FA acquisition like EJ Gaines or Rashaan Melvin to fill in for a year or two. I'd definitely be adding via FA if Nelson isn't coming back.
Safety - It's going to be unpopular but this is where I would make the splashy FA acquisition, I really like the idea of adding Thomas or Mathieu. Eagles just won a Superbowl paying 2 safeties, they impact both the run and the pass game and so it's more worthwhile splashing the cash on them than a corner, if you can get the right guy.
As a side note, my god do I wish we took Jessie Bates in the 2nd round.
In all of the above, I guess I'm suggesting spending somewhere between $20-25m of the 2019 cap on 3 defensive FA (Safety, DE, Corner). With about $45m in cap space, that should be doable? I just don't know where that leaves retaining Morse or acquiring a different Center, as to me that's the big hole on offense in 2019 as it stands.
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