The New England Patriots spent the offseason and the preseason with a rather crowded quarterback room featuring veteran Jacoby Brissett and rookie Drake Maye competing for a starting job with veteran Bailey Zappe and rookie Joe Milton battling for a third quarterback spot behind them. And it sounds like Zappe turned out to be the odd man out.
According to a report from NFL insider Jordan Schultz on social media, the New England Patriots have decided to release veteran quarterback Bailey Zappe as they make their final roster cuts on Monday.
“The Patriots have informed QB Bailey Zappe that he’s being released, per multiple sources. Zappe is well liked in the building, but it’s a crowded New England quarterback room with veteran Jacoby Brissett, alongside rookies Drake Maye and Joe Milton,” Schultz said in a post on X, the social media website that was formerly known as Twitter.
The #Patriots have informed QB Bailey Zappe that he’s being released, per multiple sources.
Zappe is well liked in the building, but it’s a crowded New England quarterback room with veteran Jacoby Brissett, alongside rookies Drake Maye and Joe Milton. pic.twitter.com/9oD2eNtUEe
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) August 27, 2024
It was always a longshot that Zappe would be able to make the team’s final roster with Brissett, Maye, and Milton all also vying for spots, but his departure still led to a lot of reactions on social media.
I’ll never forget you https://t.co/PK3CH2GqTU
— Justin Littlewood (@jlittlewood37) August 27, 2024
I’d like to thank Zappe for getting us Drake Maye, other than that good riddance my friend https://t.co/FyMNaVyjfC
— Mark Ceddia (@Ceddia12) August 27, 2024
No surprise here, least physically talented one. Doesn’t bring much to the table in a crowded QB room. I’m sure someone will pick him up https://t.co/9gMThGmFKy
— Patriots Loyalist (@PatsAddict6) August 27, 2024
Obviously not surprising but there was a 2 day span following the infamous Eagles joint practice where speculating that the Patriots could keep 4 QBs to avoid playing Maye was en vogue. https://t.co/wnRtrzzWvL
— McGarvin (@PatriotsPOV) August 27, 2024
Having noodle arm Zappe and self-propelled howitzer Milton in the same QB room was very funny https://t.co/Uwmi4sXJ1z
— Erei (@Sclierei) August 27, 2024
I’ll drive him to the airport https://t.co/VICVN6vTOx
— Jude. (@Supeprime) August 27, 2024
Zappe joined the team as a fourth-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft and started eight games over the course of his two seasons with the team, even replacing previous starter Mac Jones as the team’s starting quarterback when Jones was benched at the end of last season.
