Bailey Zappe is only certainty as New England Patriots' QB picture emerges

The New England Patriots are remaining tight-lipped over who will start as quarterback in Week 1's NFL 2024 opener against the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Patriots are embarking on a new adventure post-Bill Belichick under the stewardship of Jerod Mayo. Drake Maye out of North Carolina was New England's third overall pick this year to be the future of the franchise at QB.

However, the race for the starting quarterback spot has remained open in pre-season, with Maye , Jacoby Brissett, and Bailey Zappe all receiving snaps. All three are expected to play a part in the Patriots' last pre-season game against the Washington Commanders on Sunday night, too.

Brissett appears to be leading the race for QB1 heading into Week 1 while they wait for Maye to get up to speed. Zappe, who played 10 times in 2023 managing 1,272 passing yards for six touchdowns and one rushing touchdown, is the only certainty, with the 25-year-old out of the starting picture.

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Zappe also recorded nine interceptions as the Patriots fell to a losing season in the legendary Belichick's last campaign in New England. “We still don’t know right now,” head coach Mayo said about the battle for QB1, which is between Maye and Brissett. “We have another preseason game, and then a week after that. When I know, I’ll let you know.”

Maye has made good progress in the Patriots training camp, though. But the Patriots look unlikely to throw him in at the deep end in Week 1 against Joe Burrow's Bengals.

“Right now it’s all going the right way, right direction, and hopefully he continues to get better," Mayo added. Meanwhile, Brissett isn't focusing on his competition, as the 2024 NFL season nears.

“Every day I come out here I’m trying to do my best. It doesn’t matter if it was Day 1 or Day 39, I’m still going out there trying to do my best,” Brissett told reporters. “I don’t really worry about the competition, I more so worry about myself and then being a good teammate.”

“I still treat myself as if I’m the starter,” he added. “I just go out there and do my job. I’ve been in this league long enough.

"A lot of crazy things have happened in my career so far and I wouldn’t be shocked by anything. But at the same time, I’m enjoying this process, putting my best foot forward, and letting the chips fall where they lay.”