I'm not suggesting a doctrinaire liberal like Pataki, or even a squishy compassionate conservative like Kasich. But someone at least overall conservative who could work with Cruz and bring something to the ticket to help win the election.
Something like a Cruz-Palin or Cruz-Bachmann might work. In a pinch, Cruz-Fiorina. Especially if Hillary is coming up. If a cat fight is coming up, the GOP now has a cat in the fight.
This is, if Trump does not get sufficient support to be #1. I think the story remains to be written and that Trump may still be in process of metamorphosis. But again that might just be me.