You think a proven DC is going to come here for just a step increase in pay? Tennesse is a dumpster fire right now. We've been down 15 years, have had turmoil in the administration, have a new coach who's offense is going to require the D to be on the field a lot, holes in the roster, tons of guys in the portal, play in the hardest conference in college football, have less than perfect in state talent, and are staring down NCAA sanctions. We have no leverage, none. We're gonna have to over pay. The days of "well we're Tennessee" getting us anywhere are long gone.I agree. Maybe hog and I are just old, but in my work, past experience on the job is the primary indicator of what to offer someone. Sure, we hire people without experience because we think they have excellent potential but we certainly don't throw out a huge salary to them. If they decline a reasonable increase to what they are making now, we just move on.