Patriots Rumors: Clear Favorite Emerging In Kicker Competition

The New England Patriots will open their fourth consecutive season with a new kicker.

An organization that enjoyed 24 years of kicking excellence from Adam Vinatieri and Stephen Gostkowski has mixed and matched at the position since the latter’s release in 2020. Last year’s starter, Joey Slye, signed with the Tennessee Titans after converting 78.8 percent (26-of-33) of his field goals for New England.

John Parker Romo and rookie Andy Borregales entered camp as the team’s two kicking options. One appears to have the inside track on winning the offseason competition.

MassLive’s Mark Daniels said it’d be “shocking” if Borregales didn’t beat out Romo for the job.

Daniels noted that Borregales made 19 of 20 field-goal attempts during New England’s five open practices. On the other hand, Romo missed six of his 20 tries.

New England made Borregales the first of two kickers drafted this year when selecting the Miami Hurricanes standout with the No. 182 pick. He made 18 of 19 field goals and all 62 extra-point tries during his senior season.

“It’s been a tough road for the Patriots since they traded Nick Folk to Tennessee,” Daniels wrote. “However, it looks like the team found a good one in Borregales.”

Hurricanes special teams coordinator Danny Kalter set a high bar for his former player’s NFL prospects. Last month, Kalter told Patriots.com’s Alexandra Francisco that New England is getting “the best kicker in the country.”

“Automatic Andy” still must earn the job over Romo this summer.

Including the Patriots, Romo has signed with five different NFL teams since joining the league as an undrafted free agent in 2022. However, he made his debut late in the 2024 season.

Romo converted 11 of 12 field goals over four games with the Minnesota Vikings, including a 55-yarder in a 23-22 victory over the Arizona Cardinals. He made 18 of 22 field goals as a senior at Virginia Tech.