The New England Patriots have brought in three new quarterbacks this offseason: Jacoby Brissett, along with rookies Drake Maye and Joe Milton III. They also have Bailey Zappe, the only quarterback from last year’s team still around. Despite his familiarity with the team, Zappe seems to be the least likely to make the roster in 2024.
Given the situation, if Brissett, Maye, and Milton are the favorites to stay, the Patriots might want to reach out to the Minnesota Vikings for a potential trade. Minnesota used their first-round draft pick this year on J.J. McCarthy from Michigan, but he’s dealing with a torn meniscus and will be out for a while. The exact length of his absence will depend on how serious the injury is and the outcome of his surgery.
While the Vikings still have Sam Darnold, Nick Mullens, and Jaren Hall on their roster, none of these quarterbacks have had much success as starters. The team might be interested in bringing in another quarterback with more experience to help out until McCarthy returns.
The Patriots could propose a trade where they send Zappe to Minnesota in exchange for a conditional draft pick. For example, the Vikings could give the Patriots a seventh-round pick that might become a sixth-round pick if Zappe makes the roster and gets some playing time.
This trade would give New England some return for Zappe rather than losing him without any compensation if they decide to cut him. For Minnesota, it would provide another experienced quarterback to fill in the gap while McCarthy is recovering.
However, it’s also possible that Minnesota might be content with their current trio, especially since Zappe hasn’t had a standout career. He led the Patriots to a 4-4 record in his eight starts last season and has a 63.2% completion rate, with 2,053 yards, 11 touchdowns, 12 interceptions, and a passer rating of 78.5.
Even so, it’s worth New England making the call to explore this trade option.
