With Mac Jones coming off an impressive rookie season as their starting quarterback, the New England Patriots entered the 2022 NFL Draft well-set at the position. That said, seeing them add another player to the fold did not come as a surprise given the depth behind Jones: Brian Hoyer is 36, while Jarrett Stidham is entering the final year of his rookie deal.
Given those circumstances, the Patriots decided to use a fourth-round choice to bolster their quarterback position. The player they brought in was Western Kentucky’s Bailey Zappe, fresh off a record-breaking senior campaign.
Zappe’s impressive statistics — he set new FBS single-season records for passing yards (5,967) and passing touchdowns (62) — are not the only intriguing aspect of his selection.