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Patriots Record-Setting Draft Pick Leading in Race for Key Job

Patriots K Andres Borregales

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Patriots K Andres Borregales

There is a reason that NFL fans get a bit skittish when their favorite teams use precious draft capital to fill a position that so often winds up being given, in the end, to some free-agent signing out of an Australian rugby league or from the CFL or off of an Amazon truck. But the Patriots did use a sixth-rounder here in 2025 to fill such a spot: at kicker.

They did so, though, because they feel that Andy Borregales can return the franchise to its former kicking glory, when the position was manned by Stephen Gostkowsi and before him, Adam Vinatieri. And while Borregales has yet to kick under pressure in the NFL, he has done everything in his power here in early training sessions to show he can handle the job.

In fact, insider Mark Daniels of MassLive wrote: “The sixth-round pick shined this spring with an impressive array of accuracy and distance on his kicks. Borregales hit 95% (19-of-20) field goal attempts in five open practices. … It looks like the team found a good one in Borregales. It’d be shocking if he lost the kicking competition to Parker Romo, who made 14-of-20 (70%) attempts in open practices this spring.”

Patriots Had Eyed Andy Borregales

Borregales is a native of Venezuela, and was a standout at Miami, where he followed his brother, Jose, as a kicker. He was tied for fifth in major college football last year, making 94.7% of his field-goal attempts, with a long of 56 yards. He was also perfect on 62 extra-point attempts. His 405 points scored set a Hurricanes school record.

As NFL.com wrote in its scouting report before the draft: “Four-year kicker who leaves Miami with a reputation for being accurate and clutch. The keys to Borregales’ accuracy are his repeatable stroke and consistent ball-striking. He doesn’t have a cannon for a right leg but he has enough power to hit from distance at an admirable clip. He has a good chance to win a pro job as a rookie.”

And it looks like that job will be in New England.

Borregales said he connected quickly with special teams coordinator Jeremy Springer ahead of the draft and had hoped he would land in New England.

“I had a couple teams I guess not really circled but looking forward to,” he said. “The Patriots were definitely number one on that train. Obviously, here we are and I’m excited. I have a great relationship with Coach Springer. We clicked when we first met. I had a feeling and I’m glad I’m a Patriot.”

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