#cardinals

#cardinals

Arizona is interviewing a number of candidates for defensive coordinator, while Giants special teams coordinator Michael Ghobrial has emerged as a leading candidate to take over as special teams coordinator, per ESPN's Jordan Raanan. Ghobrial, 37, has spent the last two years with the Giants. Before that, he served as the Jets' assistant special teams coordinator on Robert Saleh 's staff, overlapping for two years with LaFleur. Ghobrial previously worked for a number of college programs as well as the Lions in 2017. The Giants had a solid year on special teams in 2025. They ranked fifth in yards per kickoff return (27.7) and 10th in average starting field position (31.3). Cornerback Deonte Banks also recorded one of the NFL's five kick return touchdowns last year.

12:03pm: Vance Joseph 's second Broncos stint has boosted his stock, and after seven years back on the coordinator level, the former head coach is poised to become a strong candidate for a second-chance opportunity. Several teams will meet with the Denver DC about HC vacancies. The Cardinals, Giants, Raiders and Titans will huddle up with Joseph, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Because the Broncos secured the AFC's bye slot, Joseph can discuss HC jobs with teams beginning Wednesday of this week. The interviews must be virtual, but Joseph will conduct them all this week.

Romero, 29, is one of the most straightforward trade candidates of the offseason. He is slated for free agency after the upcoming campaign. With the Cardinals rebuilding, there's little sense in hanging onto him. They could wait to trade him at the deadline but that path carries risks, as the Cards know. They held onto Erick Fedde and Ryan Helsley going into 2025 and saw both pitchers decrease their respective trade values with poor performances.

The Mets have grabbed headlines for the moves they haven't made this offseason, namely watching Pete Alonso sign with Baltimore and head to Los Angeles. The club is actively working to add on the offensive side, though, with the Cardinals as a potential trade partner. Will Sammon of The Athletic reports the Mets have interest in outfielder Lars Nootbaar, while John Denton of MLB.com reports New York reached out about Willson Contreras.

Evaluating NFL trades is an inexact science. In the moment, we can compare deals to similar ones from the past or look at what the widely held expectations were for a swap, but teams have information and insights that we don't necessarily have on the outside.

The Cardinals are shopping right-hander Erick Fedde, seeking trades regardless of whether they decide to buy or sell by the deadline.

But the household was split: mom was a Cubs fan and his father was a fan of the St. Louis Cardinals.