The Patriots Must Draft One of These QBs to Replace Bailey Zappe

The New England Patriots are in the process of rebuilding their quarterback room as they traded Mac Jones to the Jacksonville Jaguars, brought back Jacoby Brissett on a one-year deal, and didn’t re-sign Bailey Zappe.

Zappe stepped in for Jones towards the latter part of the 2023 season and started in the final six games. The former fourth-round pick completed 62.4 percent of their passes for 1,114 yards, six touchdowns, and seven interceptions.

The former Western Kentucky showed that he could be a solid backup in the NFL, but it may not be in New England as Jerod Mayo and Alex Van Pelt are looking for a new signal caller to fit their system.

The Patriots have the No. 3 pick, where it’s widely expected that they will take one of the top QBs in this year’s class. However, New England has five Day 3 picks to find a developmental quarterback to grow with whom they take at No. 3 and learn from Brissett.

1. Joe Milton III

The former University of Tennessee standout wowed everybody at the NFL Scouting Combine with his arm talent. 

However, the question that everybody has about Milton is his consistency and development at the next level. The 6-foot-4 quarterback played well last season as the full-time starter, taking over for Hendon Hooker, who was taken in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions.

The former Volunteer QB completed 64.7 percent of his passes for 2,813 yards, 20 touchdowns, and five interceptions. He also was a factor in Tennessee’s running game with 299 yards on the ground and seven scores.

Milton reportedly met with New England assistant coach Troy Brown down at the Senior Bowl in January. The 6-foot-4 quarterback has consistently improved each season in college, which is a good sign and worth a team taking a chance on him.