Bailey Zappe has shown true poise over the last two games—true unmeasurable intangibles that no one truly knows until it comes time to show up.
Zappe was drafted in 2022 in the fourth-round to serve as the backup to Mac Jones, and some fans are already calling for him to be the team’s full-time starter for the foreseeable future. But those fans might want to consider pumping the brakes.
Zappe is NOT better than Mac Jones. That is not an indictment on Zappe’s skill, but more of a praise on Jones’. Zappe is doing exactly what the team wanted him to do as a long-term, skilled backup QB that can spot-start a few games and be there for insurance. He has the tools to be a one of the league’s best backups for a long time.
But make no mistake, he will not be taking Jones’ job anytime soon.
Zappe was also drafted to be trade bait for desperate teams when their starters go out for an extended period of time, or if they find themselves hoping he can become the team’s franchise QB.
I get it, it’s fun to see him out there and imagine the “what if’s” and how it’s eerily similar to Tom Brady replacing Drew Bledsoe all those years ago. But the game has changed since then.
Zappe is more in line with the Jacoby Brissetts, Nick Foles, Blake Bortles, Teddy Bridgewaters, or the Tyrod Taylors of the world, and that is not a bad thing at all. Having someone of that caliber is exactly what you need behind a franchise QB. But let’s not get it twisted, Jones is the best QB on the roster. Have we forgotten already how excited we all were when he was drafted, how he performed in Year One, and how he took a leap in the offseason? Or, is our vision clouded from the utter terrible performance of the offensive line through the first three games that we think Jones stinks?
Time mends all, and when Jones is back, it will be comforting that Zappe is behind him, rather than Brian Hoyer, Jarrett Stidham, Garrett Gilbert or current-day Cam Newton.
Think of Zappe as your primary reliver in the bullpen, but Jones is still the ace.
