Veteran defenders Will Smith and Jonathan Vilma have been asked to take major pay cuts. Expect them to be released if they don't comply. The Saints can then use early-round draft picks and the second wave of free agency to find players better suited to Ryan's defense. Flush with running-back depth, the Saints could look to trade restricted free agent Chris Ivory or perhaps even release Pierre Thomas in a salary-cap move. Freeing up cap space should allow the Saints to keep Bushrod from reaching the open market.