The Mike Vrabel regime entered the draft needing roster help across multiple areas for both immediate and long-term outlooks. The Patriots added defensive talent in free agency and targeted offense and special teams in the draft. Kicking has remained unsettled since Stephen Gostkowski's departure, with Nick Folk and Chad Ryland unable to stick. The team drafted Andres Borregales in the sixth round despite lingering uncertainty. Borregales, considered the top 2025 kicking prospect, has been in a close competition with Parker Romo and struggled in the preseason finale, missing a 49-yard attempt. The miss complicates roster decisions and raises doubts about keeping him on the 53-man roster.
The Mike Vrabel regime had a daunting task going into this year's draft, as the Patriots' roster needed a lot of help across the board for the immediate future and the long-term outlook. They had already added some impressive defensive talent in free agency, so it was time to address the offense and special teams in the draft, which is exactly what they did.
It looked like they had that with Nick Folk, only for Bill Belichick to release him in favor of rookie Chad Ryland, who was then released a year later. That put the Patriots in need of a kicker, leading to them shockingly drafting Andres Borregales in the sixth round earlier this year, and at this point, it's not looking like a good decision.
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