Now with a seat in the room is Zappe, who . Bailey Zappe thought he was done crying. I watched a lot of film on Zappe, multiple games from multiple years. Bill Belichick gave QB @baileyzappe04 a phone call he'll never forget. Zappe started all 11 games as a sophomore for Houston Baptist in 2018. Because of COVID, Houston Baptist played only four games in 2020. To be clear, that is not hyperbole. In what was another surprising pick by Bill Belichick, the Patriots added another quarterback in the NFL draft. Zappe maintained his composure while speaking with the Patriots, but once that call ended, he couldn't hold back his emotions. The Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe debate has been a common one among New England Patriots fans. Zappe made the most of the limited season, throwing for 1,833 yards and 15 touchdowns in 16 quarters. Zappe has laid about as solid of a foundation as one could ask for from a quarterback and considering that hes mostly projected in the middle or later rounds, hes going to be a high-value pick at that place on the board. Touchdown Wire's Laurie Fitzpatrick goes to the All-22 to break down the best and worst reps of the NFL's top rookie cornerbacks. 9 team in 2021, Zappe threw for 488 yards and three touchdowns. Jones is the clear starter. Patriots, Bears take puzzling paths on Day 2, The NFL draft's top QBs endured a steep slide here's what's next for them, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. He isn't an overwhelming athlete and has below-average arm strength, but knows exactly what he is and maximizes what . . ", "I got drafted by the Patriots. Youve now completed your Big Board, but if you want to save it youll need to become a TDN Premium member. Putting up video game numbers for the Hilltoppers this past season2021 Stats (before bowl): 69% CMP, 5,545 YDS, 56 TD, 11 INT, 3 Rush TD His interception numbers are low too, especially considering hes almost exclusively playing against better football programs. Zappe becomes the fourth quarterback on the roster and will battle with Brian Hoyer and Jarrett Stidham for the top backup role on the Patriots. The Commanders might have found their future starting QB when they took Sam Howell in Round 5 -- but he wasn't the only potential gem in the 2022 NFL Draft. Zappe is accurate, his numbers make that clear. After drafting Brady in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL draft, and seeing . Stays balanced and ready to throw. Other NFL minds believe his positioning could be more fluid in either direction. It's unbelievable.". The selection of Zappe is another window into the Patriots' evaluation process at the quarterback position. Just a low-quality head shot. Nicole Yang 4/30/2022. I was hanging out with family when I got the call, Zappe said. A strong leader who finds a way to make plays. Pro Football Focus charted Zappe with an Adjusted Completion Percentage of 77.4%, which was tenth among college quarterbacks last season. Zappe joins cornerback Jack Jones and running back Pierre Strong as third-round picks of the Patriots this year. What receiver wouldn't love seeing that many targets?". FOLLOW EVERY PATRIOTS PICK AND ALL NFL DRAFT SELECTIONS VIA OUR EXCLUSIVE REAL-TIME TRACKER! 2022 Panini Select Draft Picks Bailey Zappe Blue Concourse WKU Hilltoppers 10. We had a little bit more run game when we got to WKU intermixed with that Air Raideverybody thinks were just straight Air Raid.. This makes me conflicted on where his arm strength lies. But you see the feel for leverage and the anticipation he has as a passer. Zappe was the reason Houston Baptist almost won putting up 567 yards, four touchdowns and zero interceptions. In a hotel room in Bowling Green, Kentucky, wearing a white shirt and a trademark smirk, Bailey Zappe is writing the next chapter of his football fairy tale. On Friday, the team selected Western Kentucky quarterback Bailey Zappe in the fourth round with the No. "And in talking to people, it sounds like he has.". Zappe, a fourth-round pick out of Western Kentucky in this year's draft, saw his first NFL action last week against the Packers when he entered the game for veteran Brian Hoyer, who suffered a . Russell Wilson, Kyler Murray, Baker Mayfield, Drew Brees, Jalen Hurts, Tua Tagovailoa, these are quarterbacks that are the same height or shorter than Bailey Zappe. No matter the team or the timing, he will be all smiles like usual. This is something differentsomething raw and something real. December 1, 2021. Zappe's a bit short, at 6-foot-1, but his selection would seemingly put him firmly in the mix to fight for the backup QB job in New England. The overview: Zappe has one of the best rsums in college quarterback history if based solely on production . He was actually an, Western Kentucky quarterback Bailey Zappe. However, that offering from the hot take hotel is built on smoke and mirrors. Will another aggressive draft by Mickey Loomis pay off for the Saints? Given his production, his completion percentage and most everything else, there aren't many other traits to take issue with. In order to be an effective pro, he must improve upon his accuracy when throwing on the move. After all, that meant that Zappe came off the board before Sam Howell and Carson Strong, two passers who generated a lot more early-round buzz than Zappe, despite his prodigious numbers last season for Western Kentucky. The 2022 NFL Draft is full of intriguing quarterback prospects. With no other offers to pick from, Zappe committed to Houston Baptist. Zappe led the nation in passing yards and passing touchdowns. Meet Western Kentucky's record-setting QB, NFL Draft prospect. 15 overall selection:"You can't really afford to skip a year. Bucky Brooks highlights 10 perfect rookie-team fits from the 2022 NFL Draft. Houston Baptist may be FCS, but they are not a historically good FCS team. Pro Football Focus charted Zappe with an Adjusted Completion Percentage of 77.4%, which was tenth among college quarterbacks last season. Nobody has ever done anything close to what he's done in 14 games. Gets it out early and throws with high loft. The quarterback who leads the FBS in passing yards (4,993), completed 25-of-48 passes for 328 yards with four touchdowns and zero interceptions, helping his . Can Chris Olave revitalize the Saints' aerial attack? In a span of eight months, Zappe has gone from a football unknown to the proud owner of the greatest statistical quarterbacking season in the history of college football. New England likely isn't going to replace Mac Jones this season, but that doesn't mean it can't add to its quarterback room even after drafting Bailey Zappe in the fourth round of last year . Gennaro Filice provides draft grades for each NFC East team. No, as the 137th pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, Zappe is more like Jarrett Stidham (133rd in 2019), Jacoby Brisset (91st in 2016), Ryan Mallett (74th in 2011) and Kevin O'Connell (94th in 2008). Bailey Zappe put up historic numbers during his one season at Western Kentucky. He's really good from the neck up. One coach, however, saw something. I am really looking forward to learning from all three of those guys and getting up there, meeting them and doing as much as I can to help the team. 3.74%. They have seen up close just what an impact he can have on a team or game. Someone please measure his ball velocity, because if its average then look out. Over the last two seasons, Jones has made one Pro Bowl and helped the franchise make the playoffs in 2021 through the wild card. How tall is Bailey Zappe? Drafting Zappe likely spells the end of the line for 2019 fourth-round pick Jarrett Stidham. With Mac Jones as the starter, veteran Brian Hoyer and Jarrett Stidham are also currently on the roster. In eight games this season, he has completed over 70% of his passes. Its been two years since Tyree Jackson broke my heart, but Ive finally found another sleeper quarterback to get excited about. Adding at the quarterback position, even with an entrenched starter, is nothing new for Belichick. By Nicole Yang and Katie McInerney Globe Staff, Updated April 30, 2022, 6:33 p.m. Something more relatable for us mere mortals. Chad Reuter identifies 12 rookies picked on Day 3 of the NFL draft who could be in line for starter snaps in Year 1. Who will take advantage of potential opportunities? For years, the Patriots have relied on the horizontal passing game, and that did not change last year with Jones at the helm. This guy is a winner, the way he's able to lead and command his team. Zappe also shows above average athleticism. That's exactly what Western Kentucky's Bailey Zappe has in the quarterback class of the 2022 NFL Draft. In Bailey Zappe, she found a QB on the rise - and a friend. / CBS Boston. Just hearing about it, seeing it on TV was surreal. He wasn't just underrecruited; he was largely ignored. Bailey Zappe weighs 220 lbs (99 kg). February 20, 2023 9:21 pm ET. Click Here To Find Out How To Test. This is not a vertical-based system. Hes a much deeper sleeper than Jackson was. The next year they added another player in the seventh round who was a college quarterback, although he carved out a role as a wide receiver. Western Kentucky doesnt have a good defense or running game, they just have Bailey Zappe. Two of his top wideouts, brothers Jerreth and Josh Sterns, made the decision to follow their OC to the school. It's only fitting that the next chapter will take place here, back where it all began. For Western Kentucky quarterback Bailey Zappe, that call came in the fourth round from the New England Patriots. And when quarterback Bailey Zappe got the . Im really excited for this opportunity., NFL Draft day one winners: Jets, Giants make franchise altering picks. You won't want to miss a moment of the 2022 season! His lack of size, arm strength and true athleticism limits his upside and viability to be an every-week starter. One of the most productive passers in college football history, Zappe will now back up 2021 first-round pick Mac Jones. Just 50 miles from the Gulf of Mexico, Victoria is the bull's-eye of the southeast Texas dartboard. Its a wide-open quarterback class ahead of the 2022 NFL Draft, as has been the story since the beginning of the season. With Zappe at the helm, New England took the Packers to overtime before eventually losing 27-24. If recent history tells us anything, however, it's that it would be best not to sleep on him much longer. Chad Reuter ranks his favorite picks in each round. For Jim Nagy, the rumblings about Zappe began earlier than most. 1 overall by the Bengals a few months later. He doesnt play down to bad competition, he dominates them. ", "I'm biased, of course. They added Matt Cassell in the seventh round in 2005, and Kevin OConnell in the third round in 2008 (now the second former quarterback drafted by Belichick to become an NFL head coach). Much like Jones, Zappe has a quick release and is an accurate short-to-intermediate passer when throwing in rhythm. Unfortunately for Zappe, he didn . 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Here's why the team pursued Zappe despite spending a first-round pick on Jones in the previous draft. [When] you put on the film of Bailey Zappe, it's hard not to like him, Groh told reporters. Instead, I think you'll see Belichick bring in a punter to compete with Bailey during . "He wasn't that real tall quarterback that would sit in the pocket, and we didn't run him a ton. As you peel back the layers of Zappe's underwhelming recruitment, it starts with his hometown. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2023 Draft Network. Another way to look at it is that Victoria is in the middle of nowhere, which it largely is. BOSTON (CBS) -- The Patriots spent their third selection of the fourth round -- No. Programs that didn't know Zappe existed a few years prior were now interested. "He's a stud, and whoever takes him is going to get a steal in the draft. His contributions on the field, as well as in the quarterback room, will be a welcomed addition in New England. The 2022 NFL Draft is in the rearview. The New England Patriots drafted the quarterback as the 137th overall pick of the 2022 NFL Draft, and the rookie made a name for himself in the league this season after appearing in four games. Gennaro Filice provides draft grades for each NFC West team. Not everyone agrees. This was the year he led the NCAA in passing yards per game. I expect Zappe to be the Case Keenum who led the Vikings to the NFC Championship game. Tight and consistent footwork in the pocket. So, what's next for this group -- in 2022 and beyond? The Patriots drafted Zappe in the fourth round, pick 137 in the 2022 NFL Draft out of Western Kentucky. Bailey Zappe is 6-1 (185 cm) tall. Zappe went to Houston Baptist college, an FCS school. But if a GM or a head coach were asking me if he has enough arm strength to play at the next level, I think he certainly does.". Im happy to be one of the few that believes in him because I have all the faith in the world he will prove me right. #HeyRookie, (via @NFLFilms) pic.twitter.com/rnwWGozBlK. He's accurate, too. BAILEY ZAPPE 2022 Panini Select Draft Picks #10 Concourse Rookie RC Patriots. In the wake of this move, many wondered why, if the Patriots were going to take a quarterback, Zappe was the selection given other options on the board. We know absolutely nothing about the NFL draft. Zappe's average game this year was essentially a weekly onslaught of video game numbers: 426 yards passing and almost four-and-a-half touchdowns. "I can't speak more highly about him," says Zach Kittley, Zappe's former offensive coordinator at HBU and Western Kentucky. The following year they drafted Kliff Kingsbury in the sixth round, perhaps putting him on a path to his current coaching job with the Arizona Cardinals. They added Rohan Davey in the fourth round of the 2002 draft, just months after Brady led them to Super Bowl XXXVI. Why record-setting QB Bailey Zappe smiles when clearing up 'misconception' ahead of NFL draft Jori Epstein, USA TODAY 5/6/2022 As China Calls for Peace, U.S. While he doesn't have the arm strength to consistently drive the ball, he does throw a catchable deep ball by getting the throw out early and with loft. He throws a great ball on the run. It's a lot of completions, it's a lot of touchdown passes, and it's a lot of wins. "I'm not really sure how early or late I'm going, but I'm just excited for this possibility," Zappe says. . Did anyone nail their first three picks more than the Eagles? Despite the numbers and the broken records, Zappe's accomplishments were likely missed. "I don't take it lightly putting Bailey in a sentence with this player. With offseason workouts scheduled to continue toward the end of the month, a few more eyes will be on the quarterback position than originally expected and that is a good thing for all parties involved. Kittley, meanwhile, accepted the offensive coordinator position at Western Kentucky. Like Zappe, Sterns made the decision to declare for the draft at the conclusion of the season. "We thought a lot of people had missed on him," Houston Baptist head coach Vic Shealy says. Overall, Zappe's mental polish on a number of passing concepts combined with his pocket movement and anticipation on throws project him as a good back-up at the NFL level. On the whole, I'd score . With the 2022 NFL Draft in the books, Adam Schein breaks down what he loved and loathed from the league's Vegas venture. In my honest opinion, I don't think his season will ever be replicated again. I am more excited to get there, get to work and meet my teammates, meet everyone who is a part of the organization and get ready to start playing some football.. There are plenty of prospects that could develop into franchise signal-callers, but there isn't a consensus top prospect. Najarian handed the phone over to Bill Belichick, who congratulated Zappe and welcomed him to the Patriots. It doesnt really matter if hes 61 or 62 because height doesnt matter, talent does. This is not a story about a can't-miss quarterback prospect taking a predictable, linear path to the NFL. Although many assumed that both the team and conference invalidate some of Zappe's numbers, Nagy saw the QB thrive in some of his team's most important games this year. Zappe is more of an average athlete, but he is not a stiff. Zappe spoke with Pats head coach Bill Belichick, then enjoyed an emotional celebration with his family, his agent, and the rest of those in attendance at his draft party. 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