Our buddy Albert Breer caused a little stir this week when he wrote the following about the Patriots' quarterback situation:
The plan is to narrow the competition down to three guys by the end of spring, so everyone can be more efficient in the summer.
Hmmm. That's interesting, to say the least.
We all know the Patriots' QB room, in order of seniority:
Jacoby Brissett ($6.5 million guaranteed)
Bailey Zappe ($985,000 cap, 2025 is final year of deal)
Drake Maye (will sign a 4-year, $36.6 million contract)
Joe Milton (4 years, $4.2 million)
My initial read on Breer's report was, we know Brissett and Maye will be here. Are they really going to pull the plug on Milton, a sixth-round pick, before the team even gets to camp? While teams do have some concerns about Milton's ability to perform all the functions needed as a QB at the NFL level (is he willing to be a first-guy-in, last-guy-out kind of guy?), that would be stunning. Why even draft him?
So that would seem to leave Zappe as the odd man out, no?
Well ... yes and no, from what I understand about the situation. Here's what I think the report really means, and how things ideally would shake out for the Patriots by the time the team begins the season.
Could Zappe be cast aside, sooner rather than later? Possibly. But that would be a dangerous game, leaving Brissett and two rookies who need a lot of seasoning as the only QBs on the roster. Especially when it comes to Maye. He should really sit for an extended period of time to make sure his footwork and throwing motion improve to the point where he won't just revert to bad habits under stress. Maye's development and making gains every day — and not regressing — should be the No. 2 priority for this team this season behind winning games. You could argue it's the most important thing. I would not put up a fight.
So if Brissett gets hurt and Zappe is not here, who's going to start?
That would not be ideal for Maye. Not at all. But keeping just Brissett, Maye and Milton would be a Packers thing to do.
When Aaron Rodgers took over for Brett Favre in 2008, as a virtual unknown with nary a start on his resume in his first three seasons, GM Ted Thompson (with Eliot Wolf and Alonzo Highsmith among his lieutenants) went with rookies Brian Brohm (second round) and Matt Flynn (seventh round) behind Rodgers.
Talk about walking a tightrope without a net.
When Jordan Love succeeded Rodgers last season, with one start in two years, GM Brian Gutekunst (a Thompson protege) went with fifth-round rookie Sean Clifford as the backup on the roster, and Alex McGough on the practice squad. McGough is moving to receiver this offseason after the drafting of Michael Pratt.
Of course, the Maye situation is completely different than Rodgers and Love. Those guys were the heirs to the throne and were ready to play. Brohm, Flynn and Clifford were in no danger of being a successor at any point. They were strictly there, if they entered the game, to put their hands at 10 and 2 and steer the car in a general direction. If the backups got ruined, they got ruined. Maye's expensive freaking china. Patriots can't afford any dings or nicks.
Could they carry four quarterbacks, at least most of the season? Sure. It's not like the Patriots are competing for a Super Bowl this season. You could spare a couple of roster spots to make sure the quarterback position is lined up correctly and you're preserving Maye. I mean, the Patriots did it in 2000 when Tom Brady was a rookie.
But that's not what I think is going to happen, and I think Breer's report means something else.
Namely, the competition will be down to three at some point by the end of the offseason, and the fourth person will be getting scraps for reps. Competition is the key word.
The Patriots are likely going to give Zappe every chance to show what he can do under new offensive leadership, and possibly generate some interest for a trade at some point. But he could still be here.
I think, if the Patriots had their way, the situation would play out like this:
• Milton shows enough in the offseason for the reps to go to Brissett, Maye and Milton in training camp.
• Zappe would be the odd-man out as far as reps. If someone wants to give up a pick for him, so be it. If that happens, the Patriots would look to sign a released veteran to the practice squad who is familiar with Van Pelt. Among those names: Joe Flacco, Dorian Thompson-Robinson, PJ Walker, Case Keenum, Jeff Driskel, Andy Dalton, Brett Hundley.
• Do the Patriots risk Milton not making it to the practice squad? Depends on what he shows in the preseason. I think they would be open to that. Could he get the Foxborough Flu?
• Ideally, I think the Patriots would prefer if Zappe and Milton made it to the practice squad. Remember, starting this season, the emergency quarterback can come from the practice squad. That would be Zappe.
• In the event of an injury to Brissett, Maye would be pressed into action but the Patriots would take it very slow with him to finish the game. If Brissett was to miss a game, Zappe (or veteran du jour, if he's elsewhere) would start the next week if Maye's not ready for that. Again, this would depend on when in the season an injury occurs. If it's early, the veteran route is more likely. If it's in the second half, Maye could certainly get the call.
As most things in this new Patriots era, this should be fascinating to watch.