Here are some quick thoughts and notes about the New England Patriots and the NFL:
- Borregales’ mindset: Last season, University of Miami special teams coach Danny Kalter highlighted a game against Virginia Tech as a great example of kicker Andy Borregales’ strong mentality.
With just 20 seconds left in the first half, Virginia Tech had just scored a 57-yard field goal, making the score 24-14. It seemed like it was time for everyone to go into the locker room and regroup.
However, when the next kickoff was returned 34 yards to near midfield, Kalter saw that Borregales was right there with him.
“He’s looking at me and then at the head coach. He believes he can make a kick from 70 yards,” Kalter remembered. “That really shows who he is. No kick is too far, and no moment is too big.”
A pass interference penalty brought the Hurricanes closer, allowing Borregales to hit a crucial 56-yarder just as time ran out in the half. These points were vital for Miami’s eventual 38-34 victory.
Now, the Patriots are counting on Borregales to produce similar important moments for them after selecting him as the first kicker in the 2025 NFL draft. They picked him in the sixth round with the 182nd overall pick.
The timing of this choice was strategic since New England thought that the Ravens—who had pick No. 186—might also choose a kicker due to uncertainty around Justin Tucker’s situation. Baltimore ended up picking Tyler Loop from Arizona at No. 186 and later released Tucker, who now faces a ten-week suspension for violating NFL conduct rules.
A strong kicking game was a key part of the Patriots’ success when they won six Super Bowl titles from 2001 to 2018, with Adam Vinatieri, a Pro Football Hall of Fame finalist, and Stephen Gostkowski as their kickers.
However, since parting ways with Gostkowski in 2020, the Patriots have struggled. Their field goal success rate of 84% is ranked 22nd in the NFL during that time, while their point-after attempt rate of 92% puts them at 27th, according to ESPN Research.
Additionally, they rank 20th for field goals from 40 yards or more (73%), 18th for field goals from 50 yards or more (66%), and also sit at 20th for field goals made in the fourth quarter or overtime (83%).
Now, the Patriots welcome Borregales, a 22-year-old whose parents moved to South Florida from Venezuela when he was two years old. His brother Jose also played as a kicker for the Hurricanes in 2020.
“The Patriots aren’t just getting a kicker; they’re getting a football player,” Kalter said. “Andy takes pride in that. From the moment he arrived in Miami at just 140 pounds to leaving at about 205 pounds while setting the all-time points record, his attitude on and off the field, work ethic, love for the game, commitment to his teammates, and competitive drive make him stand out.”
Borregales finished his four years in college by successfully making 18 out of 19 field goal attempts and hitting all 62 of his PATs in 2024.
In a demonstration of how he deals with challenges—something that’s crucial for a kicker—he missed his first field goal try of the season from 45 yards against Florida.
However, he nailed every kick after that, including a long 56-yarder against Virginia Tech. He had a tough start during his high-pressure workout at the NFL combine, missing several attempts in front of more coaches and scouts than he had ever faced before.
But he finished strong with a series of successful kicks, ending with an impressive 58-yarder.
Kalter pointed out that this shows Borregales’ ability to focus on one kick at a time and analyze his misses without overthinking, which works well with his clear leg strength.
Regarding Borregales’ ability to adapt to the Northeast weather, Kalter is confident he will meet the challenge, partly due to his experience on the windy practice fields near the ocean in Miami.
“In terms of kicking in different weather, wind is more of an issue than snow. Personally, I find it easier to kick in snow than in rain. Andy has spent 18 summers kicking in South Florida, where it often rains heavily for about 20 minutes before it gets hot and windy,” he explained.
“I believe Andy will embrace the snow. He always looks for reasons for others to doubt him; he likes having a chip on his shoulder.”
On another note, offensive tackle Yasir Durant recently signed a one-year contract with the Patriots but faces tough competition for a spot on the roster. His chances would have been even slimmer if he hadn’t played this season with the DC Defenders in the United Football League.
“The longer you are away from the NFL, the harder it is to get noticed without game footage. The UFL really helped show that he’s still improving,” said Erik Schmella from “The Familie” agency, which represents Durant.
Durant’s previous experience with the Patriots in 2021 (where he played in eight games) and his time with the Saints in 2022—when New England’s current offensive line coach Doug Marrone was part of the Saints staff—also worked in his favor. Durant was not part of an NFL team in 2024.
Schmella pointed out other players, like Minnesota Vikings defensive lineman Jalen Redmond and Steelers defensive tackle Domenique Davis, who have made it in the NFL thanks to exposure from spring leagues like the UFL, USFL, or XFL.
These leagues can give chances to athletes from smaller colleges or those who may have been injured during NFL training camps.
“They are an excellent way for players to remain visible, showing that they are fit, tough, and capable of playing,” he explained. “We’ve had success with these leagues over the past five years because we know that NFL teams are watching them.”
- Kraft’s Inspiration: Robert Kraft, the owner of the Patriots, mentioned on “The Adam Schefter Podcast” that he sometimes uses the team’s comeback win against the Falcons in Super Bowl LI as motivation for his employees in his other businesses. This game is known for having the biggest comeback in Super Bowl history, with the team down by 25 points during the third quarter.
“When people think something can’t be done, I say ’28-3,'” he shared with Schefter.
- Kalter’s Visit: The Patriots invited several college coaches to their spring practices, including Kalter from Miami and his two top assistants. This idea came up after Patriots special teams coordinator Jeremy Springer attended the Hurricanes’ pro day before the draft.
“We’re both young coordinators and we connected over that. The more we discussed, the more we realized how similar our ideas are,” Kalter said.
Kalter confirmed that the visit was planned before the Patriots selected Borregales in the draft.
“It turned out great. Whenever we can interact with NFL teams — it helps with professional growth and learning small techniques we might try to use … being there to support Andy was really important for us,” Kalter explained.
Did You Know? The Patriots are the only team in the NFL that has chosen three kickers since 2020: Justin Rohrwasser, Chad Ryland, and Borregales. All of these players were picked within the top 200 selections. Since 2020, only eight kickers have been selected in the top 200 across the entire NFL.
