NFL Player News

Even though the box scores appear lacking from a fantasy perspective, this was Maye’s best game as a professional. Maye escaped unrelenting pressure from an aggressive Bills defense throughout the night as he led the Patriots to the upset win over the last remaining undefeated team in the league, throwing just one incompletion in the second half. He leaned on his top target, Stefon Diggs, by peppering the veteran wide receiver with 12 targets on his way to his second consecutive 100-yard performance. The highlight of Maye’s night came on the team’s final possession when he held off an advancing defender in the backfield to not only avoid a sack, but complete a pass to Diggs as he was falling on his side to kickstart their drive. Fantasy managers have to be pleased with the breakout performance, knowing full well the touchdowns are likely to follow if he keeps playing like he did against the Bills. Up next for the 3-2 Patriots are the Saints on the road in Week 6.

The Cardinals’ defensive coordinator each of the past three seasons, 32-year-old Rallis was the youngest DC in the league when he was first hired three years ago. He’s had a rollercoaster ride in Arizona thus far, finishing bottom four in scoring defense two of the past three years. Discouraging, though former head coach Jonathan Gannon was largely responsible for his own defense. Rallis evidently impressed enough people inside the building to hang around under new head coach Mike LaFleur. It’s a gamble for a Cardinals team that arguably needed wholesale change, but also an olive branch to players who will at least now have one familiar face sticking around.

44-year-old Schaub, who retired in 2021, spent 2023 as an offensive analyst for the Falcons but otherwise has zero coaching experience. Arizona would represent a reunion of sorts, as new Cardinals coach Mike LaFleur was on the Falcons’ staff in 2015-16 when Schaub was backing up Matt Ryan. It’s always a bit risky to make a zero-experience coaching hire, but Schaub should know a thing or two about coaching up quarterbacks. This seems like a good get for first-time head man LaFleur.

Rapoport previously suggested a tag-and-trade scenario is possible. This time, he notes that the Cowboys acquired him for a third-round pick, so sending him away for a second would be a nice value increase. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo also believes the Cowboys will franchise tag Pickens, but made it a point to express consternation over the idea of then trading him away if the Cowboys’ goal is to one day win a Super Bowl.

Rapoport adds that “it does sound like Seattle would like to keep him.” In a three-player segment, Rapoport only mentioned the transition tag in relation to Walker. The transition tag is worth less than the franchise tag, but it allows the player to go “shop” his contract offer from the his current team to see if another team will beat it.

Carr’s comments, made during a podcast with his older brother, David, confirm a recent report from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. David notably stated that Derek is currently healthy, and suggested a team whose colors are “purple and gold,” like the Vikings, would make for an ideal fit. The younger Carr declined to respond, but he certainly seems interested in returning to the NFL in the right situation. The Saints currently retain his contract rights. Whether they would ask for significant trade compensation to acquire him is unknown.

Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi is Dave’s brother. The latter Borgonzi previously coached linebackers with the Cowboys (2025), Bears (2022-2024) and Colts (2018-2021). He held offensive and defensive assistant roles with the Cowboys and served as a defensive quality control coach with the Buccaneers before that.

Scott has served in his current roles with the Seahawks for the past four seasons. He coached Vikings defensive backs in 2021 after working his way up the college coaching ranks with six different schools from 2007-2020. He served as a defensive coordinator once before, at Southeastern Louisiana in 2014.

Kuhr took over defensive play-calling duties while Williams underwent treatment for prostate cancer this season. Williams is reportedly cancer-free, and will occupy a new role next season. Rapoport labels Kuhr “a top candidate” for the Patriots’ new defensive coordinator vacancy.

The Buccaneers also hired T.J. Yates as pass game coordinator, Andrew Mitchell as assistant offensive line coach and Todd Bowles Jr. as a defensive assistant. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport previously reported both Zampese and Yates’s expected hirings. Bowles joins his father’s coaching staff after playing most recently at Long Island University in 2024.

Kugler spent the last two seasons serving as an assistant offensive line coach with the Patriots. He held the same role with the Panthers in the two prior seasons. The Pat McAfee Show’s Steelers correspondent, Mark Kaboly, notes that Krugler is a former Steelers training camp “ball boy” and son of former Steelers OL coach Sean Kugler.