Pro Football Focus' Max Chadwick, Dalton Wasserman, and Trevor Sikkema redrafted the 2013 NFL draft class. Instead of Safety Kenny Vaccaro, they had the Saints select then cornerback-turned-safety Micah Hyde with the 15th overall pick.
Hyde was originally selected in the fifth round at pick 159 by the Green Bay Packers and would have a longer, more successful career than Vaccaro.
Micah Hyde in the NFL
Originally a cornerback, Hyde would make the transition to safety in his second year. What had started out as a move to add depth to the team would turn out to be a turning point for him, as he would become a Pro Bowler and an All-Pro at the position.
Hyde would ride out his entire rookie contract with the Packers before signing with the Bills in 2017. As a cheesehead, he would gather 227 tackles, four sacks, 24 passes defended, and eight interceptions. However, once Hyde made the trek to Buffalo, his career would really take off. With the Bills, he would have 417 tackles, 16 interceptions, 42 passes defended, three forced fumbles, and one sack.
Throughout the offseason leading up to the 2024 season, Hyde would be considering retirement but wouldn't make it official until Jan. 27, 2025.
Kenny Vaccaro in the NFL
Vaccaro would spend his first five years in the league with the Saints, all on his rookie deal. During his tenure in the black and gold, Vaccaro amassed 385 tackles, eight interceptions, 30 passes defended, 7.5 sacks, and four forced fumbles. He did not re-sign with the Saints after the 2017 season, instead signing with the Tennessee Titans in August 2018, after their starting safety, Johnathan Cyprien, tore his ACL during training camp.
He would stay with the Titans, gathering 225 total tackles, two interceptions, 14 passes defended, and four sacks before retiring in 2021. At the same time as his retirement, Vaccaro announced the launch of his esports organization, Gamer's First, also known as G1.