Former Miami Hurricanes K Andy Borregales has won the New England Patriots starting kicker job, with the team waiving Parker Romo ahead of Tuesday’s cut-down deadline, according to multiple reports. The Patriots selected Borregales with 182 overall pick (6th round) in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Rookie Andy Borregales has won the #Patriots kicker job, sources tell @CBSSports.
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) August 26, 2025
Had been competing with veteran Parker Romo, who has been released, per source. (@ByMarkDaniels 1st). pic.twitter.com/KDMb8ZAXhX
The sixth-round rookie’s preseason was uneven on field goals but strong on kickoffs — a point of emphasis under the NFL’s revised kickoff rules. Borregales went 3-for-5 on field goals in August, converting from 30, 51 and 22 yards and missing from 57 and 49, while handling kickoffs well as New England weighed the final decision.
Romo, who was perfect 2-for-2 on field goals in games and pushed Borregales through camp, was waived Tuesday morning as the Patriots trimmed toward 53. He could circle back on the practice squad if he clears waivers, giving New England a contingency plan if the rookie struggles early.
At Miami, Borregales hit 86% of his field goals, went 18-for-19 in 2024, and led the ACC with 22 makes in 2023, including seven of 10 from 50+ in his college career. He was 74-of-86 on FG's and 183-of-184 on PATs for the Hurricanes. He made First Team All-ACC honors in 2023 and 2024.
In his early years he was good too. He completed the 2021 season hitting 17 out of his 21 field goals and all 45 of his extra points attempts (true freshman year). In 2022 — his sophomore season — he went 17 for 20 on his field goal attempts and converted on all of his extra points.
With the league’s dynamic kickoff tweak moving touchbacks to the 35, teams are incentivized to keep kicks playable — increasing the value of hang time, placement and coverage over automatic touchbacks. Borregales' kickoffs reportedly graded well inside the building, and that edge may have nudged him past Romo despite the split on long field-goal attempts.
Borregales is the Patriots Week 1 kicker, the fourth different starter in four seasons for New England after Joey Slye, Chad Ryland and Nick Folk held the job in recent years.