5 Patriots Who Should Be Cut Before the Season Ends
By Tyler Maher
2. Bailey Zappe
Speaking of struggling quarterbacks who need to go, we might as well toss Bailey Zappe over the side while we're at it.
Like Jones, Zappe got off to a promising start in his NFL career. Also like Jones, he's been unable to replicate it and has been objectively terrible in 2023.
With Jones struggling, Zappe has already relieved him three times this season. Unfortunately, he's been unable to capitalize on those opportunities, completing just 40% of his passes and throwing no touchdowns.
Worse, he blew his chance to win the game for New England in Week 10. Bill Belichick replaced Jones with Zappe for the Patriots' final drive with the team trailing 10-6, giving the latter a chance to potentially earn the starting QB job going forward. Instead, Zappe rewarded him by faking a spike and throwing a game-ending interception into triple coverage, sealing New England's fate and likely his own as well.
Zappe struggled in the preseason too and was already cut by Belichick before the season began, so the Patriots should have no problem moving on from him again.