Patriots decide on their top 3 Quaterbacks

The Patriots currently have four quarterbacks on their roster but plan to reduce this number soon. Albert Breer from SI.com reports that the team aims to “narrow the competition down to three guys by the end of spring.”

With Offensive Coordinator Alex Van Pelt installing a new offense, the Patriots seek a “more efficient” approach by the time training camp begins in the summer. Organized team activities began today and will continue sporadically until mandatory minicamp on June 11. The front office is expected to resolve the quarterback logjam during the following month.

Rookie Drake Maye, the third-overall pick, is assured one of the roster spots. Free agent acquisition Jacoby Brissett will also be on the roster, with Breer noting that the veteran currently has “an early leg up” on the starting quarterback position. If the Patriots decide to keep a third quarterback, the competition for the final spot will be between Bailey Zappe and rookie Joe Milton III.

Zappe, a former fourth-round pick, has spent the past two seasons with the Patriots, occasionally filling in for Mac Jones. He has a 4-4 record in his eight career starts, completing 63.2 percent of his passes for 2,053 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. Despite showing promise as a rookie, Zappe seemed to regress in 2023, with some sources attributing this to his difficulty understanding Bill O’Brien’s offensive system. His compatibility with Van Pelt’s system could determine his future with the team.

Milton, a sixth-round pick, is not guaranteed a roster spot. Known for his size (six-foot-five, 235 pounds) and powerful arm, the Michigan and Tennessee product is considered a developmental passer. With Maye and Brissett established at the top of the depth chart, the Patriots might prefer Milton’s potential upside over Zappe’s experience.