To some, it was a surprise the Patriots chose a quarterback. In the fourth-round no less.
Western Kentucky’s Bailey Zappe, however, didn’t care about depth charts or anything save for hearing his name called.
“Everything was going to be a surprise when I got drafted. I have been looking forward to this moment for so long and it is something I have been dreaming of since I started playing football at five,” he told the media during a conference call. “Getting that call from the Patriots was amazing, and I am more excited to get there, get to work and meet my teammates, meet everyone a part of the organization and get ready to start playing some football.”
So where does Zappe fit?
Mac Jones is the starter and expected to lead the Patriots for many years to come. Brian Hoyer is a veteran backup who is the perfect mentor to Jones. He’s under contract for this year and next.
As for Jarrett Stidham, the former fourth-round pick has another year left on his contract, and could be the odd man out. It would appear Zappe would take over as the third quarterback, and a developmental backup.
“There’s a lot of room to grow. Being a part of this organization, there are going to be opportunities for me to get to that point and develop as a QB,” said Zappe. “I think some of the strengths are, I love the game of football, I love learning about the game, my knowledge of the game, continue working on accuracy ball placement like every QB wants to work on. Being a part of this organization, I’ll be able to learn from so many coaches and players. I am excited to get in the QB room and get to work with them.”
Zappe, who broke the FBS single-season record for most touchdown passes (62) and passing yards (5,967) last year, lauded Jones.
“(Mac’s) a phenomenal quarterback. He is a great QB as is the rest of the QB’s in that room,” he said. “I am really looking forward to learning from all three of those guys and getting up there, meeting them and doing as much as I can to help the team. I am really excited about this opportunity.”
Zappe only had one college offer. But that’s all it took for him to get noticed. He said he doesn’t use that for motivation, or have a chip on his shoulder.
“ I am not trying to be anybody else. I am going to come to work every day and get one percent better. That is how I look at it,” he said. “I do not worry too much about the naysayers and critics. The Patriots believe in me, and those coaches, players, and organization believed in me and those are the people I’m going to try to prove right, that this pick was the right one.”
