Patriots Introduce ‘Notable’ QB Change At Training Camp

Former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick used to throw a QB competition in training camp in order to pick the right option for the regular season. It seems like head coach Jerod Mayo has embraced a similar approach.

New England used the 3^rd overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft to select talented Drake Maye. His great talent and exceptional skill set made teams compete and the Patriots used their pick to get him. It was a good decision for the team and Maye has a chance to make an impact on the football team. Alabama quarterback Mac Jones is no longer part of the team and Maye will probably replace him at quarterback. Mayo made another change at QB and put rookie Joe Milton III ahead of Bailey Zappe on the depth chart at training camp.

Doug Kyed from the Boston Herald was the first to notice this change on Thursday.

Most notable thing at Patriots practice today was that Joe Milton III was taking reps above Bailey Zappe in team drills.

— Doug Kyed (@DougKyed) July 25, 2024

Patriots try out rookie QB at training camp

This decision is definitely an upgrade for Milton. The Patriots were enchanted by his arm strength and dual-threat skills. Will the team move on from Zappe and trade him to another team? It’s too soon to make a prediction on Zappe’s future with the team.

“Throughout the spring and during the first day of camp, Bailey Zappe was either the second or third quarterback during team drills. Seeing him drop back to No. 4 was noteworthy,” Mark Daniels from MassLive.com reported.

Zappe has a 4-4 record as a starter with the Patriots. He did make a few mistakes that may be a one-way ticket at this point.

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Ben Volin from The Boston Globe wouldn’t bet on a Zappe trade at this point. He said that the Patriots “may want to stay open-minded about keeping Zappe”. He was impressed by the player’s performance in the opening day of training camp and “saw a determined, focused player who ran his drills crisply, made the majority of his throws, and seemed to have a good command of the offense.”