6 Patriots Playing for Their Jobs in Training Camp
New England Patriots fans can finally put the abysmal 2023 NFL season behind him now that this year's training camp is set to begin in less than two weeks. The upcoming sessions begin on July 24 as first-year head coach Jerod Mayo and his staff begin to evaluate which players are deserving of a 53-man roster spot.
If Mayo is going to have a strong Year 1, every player must do their part to make his life easier. While certain Patriots have already proven that they're ready to be a weekly NFL contributor, others' future is more up in the air after failing to impress in the past. In other words, it's about to be a tension-filled few weeks.
Before any upcoming cuts are made official, here are six Patriots who are playing for their jobs in training camp 2024.
1. Bailey Zappe, QB
The Patriots' quarterback room underwent some serious changes this offseason.
With the Mac Jones era out the door, New England reunited itself with veteran QB Jacoby Brissett on a one-year, $8 million deal in free agency before using the 2024 NFL Draft's third-overall selection on UNC gunslinger Drake Maye. The Pats didn't stop there, though, also adding Tennessee's Joe Milton with a sixth-round pick, making Bailey Zappe the only returning arm in the QB room.
With the team's latest additions, it's hard to imagine Zappe sticking around for long. The former 2022 fourth-rounder struggled in his 10 appearances (six starts) last season, completing just 59.9% of passes for 1,272 passing yards with six touchdowns to nine interceptions. He also fumbled the ball twice while finishing the campaign with a 68.7 passer rating — good for 50th out of 59 eligible QBs.
It's just hard to imagne Zappe beating out any of the other names for a roster spot. The Patriots aren't paying Brissett $8 million just to cut him while Maye, the future face of the franchise, isn't going anywhere. Maybe Milton's spot is less secure than the aforementioned duo, however, his ability to both throw and catch the ball could lead to him sticking around as the third-string quarterback.
According to Spotrac, New England can save $985,000 by cutting or trading Zappe before the season. I wouldn't be surprised if management likes the idea of freeing up that cash to help fill more pressing roster holes.