With the influx of players in the offseason, the Patriots have created an interesting array of preseason battles for key roles. Who is the WR2? Who will start alongside Robert Spillane at linebacker? Do the Patriots keep a third tight end? Will they double as a fullback?
There are still plenty of questions to be answered, but one battle has become one of the more heated ones on the team, and for good reason.
If anyone said the Patriots would have not one, but two excellent kickers on the roster, it would seem hard to believe. Since the departure of Nick Folk due to his deteriorating leg strength, the Patriots have had a pair of failed experiments in 2023 fourth-round pick Chad Ryland and last year's Joey Slye. Slye was far better than Ryland, but the Patriots let him walk nonetheless after he struggled with consistency from short.
Jeremy Springer's special teams unit has been completely revamped, and it now features a fascinating kicker competition. The Patriots' 182nd pick, Andy Borregales, made a name for himself at UMiami and was the first kicker selected in this year's draft.
Parker Romo had a nice couple of games with Minnesota last season, but was released after rookie standout Will Reichard returned from injury. He signed with the Patriots' practice squad in December.
The Patriots preseason opener was a measuring stick for the kicking room
Of all the positives from Friday's dominant game against the Commanders, the kickers were some of the more impressive. They received equal opportunity, each getting one field goal and three extra point opportunities: both went 4/4. Borregales hit a chip shot 22-yarder, but Romo hit from deep: a 57-yard field goal.
Romo's kick was just seven yards off beating Joey Slye's 63-yard kick last season, which broke the record for the longest ever made in Gillette Stadium.
Long kicks aren't new for Romo. The former Virginia Tech Hokie went 5/6 last season with the Vikings, hitting his season-long from 55. The 27-year-old has just four games of NFL experience but performed well when called upon. While he was a long shot to make the roster after the selection of Borregales, he's kicked his way back into the competition.
Borregales' status as a Vrabel draft pick and being the first kicker selected makes me think he has the inside track, despite Romo's performance. While Romo's deep kick was impressive, you can't fault the former Hurricane for a lack of opportunity.
The next couple of games will be crucial in determining the roster, but for the time being, I'd give the edge to Borregales, with about 65% confidence he will be the one now.