NFL Rumors: Former Patriots Assistant Teams Up With AFC Rival

Most of Jerod Mayo’s assistant coaches are now dispersed throughout the NFL after Mike Vrabel was hired and made wholesale changes to the New England Patriots coaching staff.

A few wound up going to the Cincinnati Bengals, but another former assistant will be staying within the AFC East.

CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz reported Sunday night that longtime cornerbacks coach Mike Pellegrino is joining the Buffalo Bills. Zenitz noted that Pellegrino is expected to take over for Scott Booker, who was a nickel coach and senior defensive assistant for the Bills this past season.

It’s actually pretty much a swap between Pellegrino and Booker, who was named New England’s safeties coach as part of Vrabel’s new-look coaching staff. Booker has strong ties with Vrabel as the two spent six seasons together with the Tennessee Titans.

Pellegrino, 31, had been with the Patriots since 2015 and worked as New England’s cornerbacks coach the past six seasons. During that time, Pellegrino helped get the best out of stud corners like Stephon Gilmore, J.C. Jackson and Christian Gonzalez.

Pellegrino now will try to work that magic for the Bills and put it to use against the Patriots and the rest of the AFC.