We know what you might be thinking: The New England Patriots already have a young franchise quarterback who’s entering his second season. Why would they draft another QB one year later?
But based on the Patriots’ history, their decision to select Western Kentucky’s Bailey Zappe in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft (No. 137 overall) shouldn’t surprise anyone.
Why not? Because they’ve done this before. A lot.
Back in the early 2000s, when Tom Brady was a Super Bowl winner ascending toward superstardom, the Patriots frequently used draft picks on developmental backups.