So according to this article next year we will be shifting to a 3-4 under, one gap defense.
This article does a fantastic job of explaining what a "3-4 under" looks like, a few things stood out to me.
1) Vita Vea can play NT, but it is a WASTE of his talent.
2) Gerald McCoy is actually a great fit as a "5 tech" in this front.
According to the picture above, the nose tackles job is to simply occupy blocks, while both ends are in attack mode going at their respective gaps. In the under front " the weak-side defensive end slides inside slightly and plays a 3-technique" which is what Gerald already excels at. Vea on the other hand, has shown the ability stop the run, and wreck havoc with his freakish ability. Yes he can hold the point at nose for us, but why limit him? I see him being what Akim Hicks is in Chicago, and honestly being even better at at.
Which brings me to my next point, we should go after Dexter Lawrence in the 2nd round. He can be our true nose tackle, and come in and have an immediate impact. There is always a learning curve to the NFL, but he's going to be mostly asked to do what he did in college in this scheme...stand there and be big and strong. Let's say we get Devin White in the first, and bring in Mo Claiborne on a bargain deal to at least give the secondary some experience.
Our front five starting from the weakside would be
JPP as a standing defensive end (which he blitzes from and found success in under Dufner)
McCoy as a "5 tech" who is playing like a 3 tech, except he's in full attack mode with no 2 gap holding Mike Smith bull crap
Dexter Lawrence holding the middle down at 351 pounds.
Vea next to him wrecking havoc in an Akim Hicks type role.
Spence/Nassib rushing from the outside. Spence is finally in his naturally positon, and with Nassib you at least know you are getting a guy who works his butt off.
Behind them are David and Devin White cleaning up. Our secondary will be Claiborne and the ascending Davis at corner, paired with Justin Evans and Jordan Whitehead/MJ Stewart.
