The New England Patriots have one of the least entertaining but impactful position battles going on during OTAs. John Parker Romo and Andres Borregales are battling for New England's kicking position, with the rookie wasting no time making an impression. The rookie is consistently putting pressure forcing the Patriots into an interesting competition heading into the summer.
While the New England fan base is understandably focused on the development of Drake Maye, this is an incredibly impactful battle. It's one Patriots fans can't afford to ignore after recent questions about the position. Borregales was the 182nd overall pick in this year's draft after an impressive run with the Miami Hurricanes. It is starting to look more and more favorable for the rookie.
Andres Borregales is Making a Strong Case to Become the Patriots' Kicker
It important to note that these kicks are incredibly difficult to judge based on the complete lack of pressure. There are a myriad of athletes capable of making these kicks in OTAs when the pressure is off and the focus is completely on executing in perfect conditions. Still, the Patriot does have the added pressure of being a rookie going through his first full offseason with the team.
Having the offensive impact of Drake May drives up the importance of a position that is often going to be relied on. While the Patriots are poised to take a step forward, they are at least a year away from contending for anything of note. This is based on offensive limitations that are often going to stall drives and force Maye to settle for a field goal attempt.
With this in mind, the New England rookies' summer and preseason are paramount to whether or not this team is able to take a meaningful step forward. Having the reliability of the kicking game is going to drastically alter what this team is capable of, based on the teams the head coach often runs. It is going to be a tough defense that is often going to be involved in nailbiters, no matter the opponent. Making the hot start for the rookie kicker all the more exciting.