The Patriots kicked off their preseason in an interesting manner. While most tuned in to see Drake Maye’s professional debut, a different quarterback saw most of the snaps. Bailey Zappe came in midway through the first quarter and played into the third in what appeared to be an attempt to boost his trade value. The former fourth-round pick didn’t set the world on fire, but he had a decent outing. In total, Zappe completed 12 of his 20 passes for 108 yards while also having a few nice plays called back.
#Patriots rookie WR Javon Baker with a nice catch:
— SCOUTD (@scoutdnfl) August 9, 2024
The Patriots wanted to find their QB3 in this game, and they succeeded in that mission. Sixth-round rookie Joe Milton stole the show in his NFL debut, completing four of his six attempts for 54 yards and a touchdown while adding another 22 yards on the ground. Barring an injury, Bailey Zappe will not make this team, but he could’ve done enough to draw some trade interest from a team looking for a new backup passer.
Ravens, Chargers Could Trade For Bailey Zappe After Impressive Preseason Performance
Bailey Zappe is not stealing Lamar Jackson’s job, but the team could still consider a trade. Jackson’s mobility invites contact, resulting in him missing multiple games in two of the past three seasons. In the past, Tyler Huntley could step up and do an adequate job filling in, although he could never recapture Jackson’s magic. However, the former undrafted free agent is now with the Cleveland Browns, leaving the backup job wide open.
If the season started today, Josh Johnson would likely win the backup quarterback job. Johnson is the definition of a career journeyman, spending time on seemingly every roster in the league since joining the NFL back in 2009. He might be a great clubhouse guy, but he’s not an NFL-caliber quarterback. Bailey Zappe won’t win too many games on his own, but he’s better than Johnson. Seeing as he’d only cost a conditional late-round pick, the Ravens might as well trade for Bailey Zappe and upgrade one of the most important positions in the game.
Herbert Insurance
Justin Herbert suffered a foot injury earlier in camp that will sideline him for a few weeks. While the initial report indicated he’ll be ready for Week 1, Jim Harbaugh doesn’t sound too optimistic about his status. Even if Herbert meets that initial timeline, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the star quarterback will be in pain throughout the regular season. Nobody wants to hear it at this point in the season, but there’s a good chance Herbert misses a portion of the season.
If the quarterback misses time, the Chargers will turn the ship over to Easton Stick. Stick did his best in Herbert’s absence last year, but the team lost each one of his starts. Jim Harbaugh is better than Brandon Staley, but the roster itself is probably worse now than in 2023. Stick won’t win games with this underwhelming supporting cast, so Los Angeles could trade for Bailey Zappe to add some competition. The Patriots quarterback has experience with throwing to no-name receivers, which could help in the upcoming season.
Main Photo: Eric Canha – USA Today Sports
