Ranking the potential QB options for the Patriots in 2023
By Jared Koch
Zappe’s rookie campaign this season was an interesting one to say the least.
I can assure you not many fans expected that Zappe was going to start at some point this season coming into the year. The 4th-round pick came in this year to essentially step into the Jarrett Stidham role and settle in as the team’s QB2 or QB3. However, Zappe stepped in as the QB1 for three games this season; and he didn’t do too bad in those games either.
In Zappe’s four games that he ended up playing in this season, he threw at a 70.7% completion rate for 781 yards, five touchdowns, and three picks. Surprisingly, Zappe’s completion percentage was the highest of any quarterback that started multiple games this season.
With these stats, you could think that Zappe should be starting over Mac based on last year’s production. However, this take is very short-sighted and is based on a very small sample size that we’ve seen from Zappe.
In the games Bailey Zappe started in, he beat the Detroit Lions (ranked last in the entire league for yards allowed), and the Cleveland Browns (a team that is now 2-9 against the Patriots in the Belichick era). I’ll give credit where its due: Zappe had some solid showings in these games, but not enough to merit taking the job over Mac Jones.
If Zappe comes into next training camp and preseason and shows out then, maybe we can have a discussion.