Over the last few months, we’ve been taking an in-depth look at some of the late season signings who are under contract for 2026, and futures signings after the end of the season. We continue today with
quarterback Bailey Zappe, who signed a futures deal after the season.
The 26-year old Zappe is listed at 6’1″ and 220 pounds and was a fourth round pick out of Western Kentucky in 2022. Having set a number of NCAA records in college, Zappe has started nine games at the NFL level, winning four. He has passed for over 2,200 yards in his pro career so far, with 12 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.
Background
Zappe was an unheralded high school recruit, rated as a zero-star prospect, so he ended up going to Houston Baptist. After a rocky first season that saw him throw 10 interceptions with just five touchdown passes, Zappe showed some improvement in 2018 as he had 23 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions. However, the team had lost 16 of 18 games in his first two seasons.
In 2019, Zappe helped the team become more competitive as he threw for over 3,800 yards and 35 touchdowns with 15 interceptions. They ended up going 5-7 that year.
The 2020 season was truncated to just four games but Zappe threw 15 touchdowns and averaged over 450 passing yards in those games. At the end of the season, he opted to transfer to Western Kentucky, with his offensive coordinator and number one receiver joining him.
His career with the Hilltoppers got off to a sensational start as he had 424 yards and seven touchdowns in his first game. By the end of the year, Zappe had set an all-time NCAA record with almost 6,000 passing yards and 62 touchdown passes. His 426.2 yards per game career mark is also an all-time record.
Zappe earned some mid-round buzz after a decent showing at the 2022 scouting combine and was ultimately selected in the fourth round by the New England Patriots.
Having started off on the bench, Zappe got some early season playing time in relief of Mac Jones. He became the first rookie in the Super Bowl era to win and post a quarterback rating of over 100 in each of his first two starts. Those would prove to be the only two starts of his rookie year, though, as he ended up with a 71 percent completion percentage, 581 passing yards and five touchdowns with three interceptions. He had a career-high 309 passing yards in his second start against the Browns.
In 2023, he was initially released in final cuts but was retained on the practice squad and added to the active roster later. He ultimately made six starts, although he was less effective than he had been in his rookie year. He won two of the six starts as he had 1,272 yards, six touchdowns and nine interceptions.
The following season saw Zappe released in final cuts again but this time the Patriots did not retain him. After spending time on the Chiefs’ practice squad, Zappe was poached by the Browns and started the season finale, in which he completed 16 of 31 passes for 170 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions.
In 2025, he once again started off with the Chiefs, for whom he attended training camp and played in preseason, then ended up in Cleveland. He was on the practice squad for the Browns and did not play all season.
The Jets signed Zappe to a futures deal after the season was over.
Let’s move onto some more in-depth analysis of what Zappe brings to the table as a player, based on extensive research and film study.
Measurables/Athleticism
Zappe, who has below average size, isn’t renowned for his athletic ability either, but he isn’t a complete slouch. At the combine, he posted a 4.88 in the 40 yard dash, with below average explosiveness and agility numbers.
Arm Strength
Arm strength is regarded as one of Zappe’s weaknesses. He has had sporadic success on deep balls and although he throws a catchable ball that he gets plenty of air under it, he can struggle to get enough on his deep passes to hit downfield receivers in stride.
His longest touchdown at the NFL level is just 31 yards as seven of the 12 have come from in the red zone. He has also only completed one 50-yard pass at the pro level.
When he needs to get additional zip on a throw to get it outside the numbers or in a tight window, Zappe can do this if he has room to step into the throw.
Accuracy
As Zappe showed in his rookie year by completing over 70 percent of his passes, he can post a solid completion percentage at the pro level, albeit that he was in a game manager role. In subsequent appearances and preseason action, his percentages have been lower.
When he has time, Zappe can hit his receivers in stride, fit the ball in between defenders in traffic and put the ball into a spot where his intended target can make a play.
Often when a young quarterback struggles with accuracy, the issue isn’t that they can’t throw the ball to the right spot, it’s that the throw is late. This isn’t generally the case with Zappe who does show the ability to make anticipatory throws on time.
Under pressure
Like most young quarterbacks, Zappe’s numbers drop off when he is pressured. However, the drop-off isn’t as significant as it often will be. In fact, only two of his 14 career interceptions have come when he was under pressure as he has been praised for his poise and “calm eyes”.
Zappe was sacked 25 times in his six starts in 2023, suggesting he’s not very good at escaping pressure and more willing to take a sack than make a key mistake.
When he senses pressure, Zappe will step up into the pocket but does a good job of keeping his eyes up to look for opportunities rather than defaulting to scramble mode.
One thing that does need work, though, is that he often has passes batted down at the line, or – worse – tipped into the air.
He has fumbled six times in his career, losing four.
Footwork/Technique
Zappe has decent mechanics and a quick release, with good balance and the ability to throw on the move. Those mechanics can let him down when he is forced to rush, though.
He seems comfortable under center and in play-action with an ability to see the field despite having his back turned briefly to fake the hand-off.
Decision Making
Zappe doesn’t always stare down his primary option as he is capable of reading the field and going through his progressions to find the open man.
He does, however, also have a tendency to force the ball into traffic at times and can get burned in these situations.
Zappe has thrown two pick-sixes in his NFL career but both of these were when he wasn’t on the same page as his receiver rather than being bad decisions. This was a bad read, though, on a play where he should have led the back out towards the sideline. In that case you could say that the back read the coverage but Zappe failed to.
Mobility
Zappe isn’t much of a run threat, although he will take easy yardage when it’s there and does have six first downs and a touchdown as a rusher at the pro level.
In college, he had more success with six rushing touchdowns in his career. That included a 68-yard run back in 2018 as he was untouched on a read-option keeper. He ended up with 132 rushing yards that day.
Zappe does have some ability to move around in the pocket in order to keep a play alive long enough for someone to uncover.
Special teams
Zappe has not played a role on special teams at any level and would not be expected to in the NFL.
Scheme Fit
Zappe seems to be at his best in a quick passing game, which can include RPOs and play-action. At the time of writing, we don’t know who the Jets’ playcaller will be but, of course, this is an aspect of most modern offenses these days.
He has been a teammate of current Jets Mac Dalena, Liam Fornadel and Ochaun Mathis, along with restricted free agent Cam Jones.
Injuries
Zappe has been fortunate with injuries so far in his career, as he doesn’t appear to have missed any time or been limited.
Intangibles
Zappe is regarded as having a good football IQ. He scored a 35 in the Wonderlic at the 2022 scouting combine and was on the Southland Conference Commissioner’s Honor Roll four times while at Houston Baptist.
Having started off from humble beginnings, Zappe has shown good determination to get to this level and his teammates have expressed confidence in his poise and decision making abilities.
He is a player who always prepares well, even when he is not scheduled to be the starter.
Conclusions
Although Zappe is still only 26, it feels like the NFL has already collectively decided he’s a career-backup at best, rather than a potential fringe starter or something more. Nevertheless, it’s useful to have someone with starting experience in the organization as an option.
Last season underlines this, as the Jets were forced to call Brady Cook into unexpected action and found him to be overmatched in a way that a player with Zappe’s experience perhaps wouldn’t have been. Although they opted to stick with Cook rather than bring in a player like Zappe sooner, this was informed by the Jets being out of contention. In a similar situation earlier on in the season, you might be glad to have a Zappe type in the organization for emergencies.
In some areas, Zappe is limited, but in an offense that is tailored towards his strengths, he can hold the fort for a team for a game or two at this level and has a shot to stick around with the Jets in 2026, albeit probably as a number three and on the practice squad at best.
