It is Rare when Belichick goes outside the team to bring someone in,but this defense cannot continue to be at the bottom yearly and needs a guy with experience and success to get them to a higher level.
Regardless of what happens the rest of the year.
Believe me, this defense has as good chance of making a Texan's type quick turn around next season. Maybe not moving from the rear into the top 5, but easily into the top 15. And with this offend, having a defense that is in the top 15 in total yds would make this team almost unbeatable. Here's how it happens.
1. We rebuild the safety position by signing one of the top 2 FA safeties out there, and drafting a rookie FS type (ie Lester) in the 2nd round. Then you add a healthy Chung and Barrett plus Iheadabu as a special teamer/injury replacement and we are half way there.
2. We get Dowling back healthy and draft another bigger type CB with one of the first 4 picks. Now we have a CB of McCourty Arrington, Dowling, high end rookie, plus the best of Moldin, Moore, and Jones (pick 2)
3. Get Carter back healthy. Resign Anderson. Get Cunningham back healthy, and draft at DE/OLB pass rush type with one of the first 4 picks
4. I like the young DLmen and how they are developing. Deadrick, Brace, Love, Pryor, Wilfolk to go along with Wilfolk, Anderson and Carter is a fine group. Adding another rookie or FA for competition only makes it better
So since we are going highly hypothetical here Here is a defense I'm sure will be top 15 in total yards and top 10 in scoring - not a huge move in either category.
First 5 draft picks
Upshaw OLB
Minnefield - CB
Lester - S
DE/DT - take your pick
WR - Take your pick
DL - Carter, Anderson, Wilfolk, Deadrick, Love, Pryor, Brace, rookie/FA
OLB - Ninkovich, Cunningham, Upshaw
ILB - Mayo, Fletcher, Spikes, Tarpanian (coverage LB)
CBs - Arrrington, McCourty, Dowling, Minnefield, Moldin, Moore
S's - Chung, Landry/Mathis, Lester, Barrett, Iheadabu.
That's 26 primarily defensive players, if you HAVE to go with 25 delete a guy who has the least special teams value