Assuming that Madison and Howard are not coming back and that Schulters and Bell are re-signed, our secondary looks something like this:
CBs - Poole, Daniels, Mitchell, Jackson
S - Schulters, Jones, Bell, Tillman
What to do:
CB - Even assuming that Poole comes back healthy and becomes our starting RCB and Mitchell can become a viable option as the 3rd CB (who'd get a lot of playing time), they are still, along with Daniels, a very young and inexperienced group. That's not to say they can't get the job done, but there'd more than likely be some growing pains. I forsee that if Saban is sold on Mitchell and Poole, that he signs a veteran CB in FA. If he doesn't do that, I would then assume he'll go after a 3nd - 4rd rounder in the draft. I don't think in any way the Madison or Howard are retained.
S: Schulters may be difficult to re-sign. He'll want a bigger contract, but if Howard is cut, I can see him giving Howard money to him. Jones can hold us for another year that is left on his contract. They, along with Bell and Tillman came together in the second half of the season. But I think that S would be a 1st or 2nd round pick for us, or perhaps a Huff (who can play both positions).
So I see CB/S as being as much as two of our day one picks. I'm not sure that Saban will be comfortable enough with Poole and Daniels. The weakness that tandem would create is a lack of ideal speed at both CB positions.
All this is moot until just before the draft. If Saban signs a couple of CBs and/or safeties that can be starters...then he wouldn't have to go in that direction. I do think that he will want to add a young Safety at least in preparation for Schulters and Jones eventual departure...
