as the defense currently is, how do you replace wilfork? do you get someone who is wilfork 2.0 or do you get someone who is better or different in some other way? is a wilfork kind of player even right for this style of defense?

I think in this defense you need as many different kinds of tools for the toolbox as you can get. But having a space eater inside like Wilfork is essential because the base defense is essentially a 2-4 nickel now.

So you have to be able to stop the run with only six in the box, even if it comes at the expense of some pass rush up the gut. That means at least one two-gapper who can hold his ground and eat up multiple blockers to allow the linebackers to make plays.

You already have some more traditional defensive tackles in Chris Jones and Dominique Easley, and you have a possible Wilfork-type guy in Siliga. 

But if Wilfork gets cut and doesn’t return (a real possibility) I think they’ll need to find another two-gapper to back up/push/replace Siliga. You can use someone like Alan Branch/Gerard Warren, but those guys are a little taller and can struggle when guards get under them.

So keep an eye on traditional nose tackle types – 6’2"-ish, 325-ish.