NYJ Bailey Zappe
NFL player. Position: QB. Team: NYJ.
Quick Facts
- Position: QB
- Team: NYJ (New York Jets)
- Draft: 2022 NFL Draft, No. 4 overall (4th round)
- Career record: 4-4 as starter (2022–2024)
2026 Outlook
Signed to a futures deal by the Jets in January 2026 after spending the entire 2025 season on the Cleveland Browns' practice squad. While not inspiring, Zappe is the most experienced backup quarterback currently on New York's roster behind starter Geno Smith. With rookie fourth-rounder Cade Klubnik and second-year QB Brady Cook rounding out the QB room, Zappe has a genuine path to the QB2 job entering training camp. The Jets may still explore veteran options (Russell Wilson, Joshua Dobbs, Cooper Rush among names mentioned), but Zappe's NFL starting experience—despite mediocre results—gives him an edge over unproven rookies. (per Bailey Zappe somehow has a real path to the Jets' backup QB job)
His last regular-season appearance was Week 18 2024 (16-of-31, 170 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT in a loss), indicating limited opportunity league-wide despite prior starting experience with the Patriots (4-4, 11 TDs, 12 INTs). Head coach Frank Reich has traditionally preferred confident pocket passers working within structure, and Zappe loosely fits that profile—though his ceiling remains QB3/practice squad rather than meaningful fantasy relevance.
Role / Depth Chart
Competing for backup QB role in training camp; currently third on depth chart behind Geno Smith and Cade Klubnik.
Injury Status
Healthy.
Recent News
- 2026-06-17 — Minnesota Vikings News and Links: What Will We Talk About Until Training Camp? (Minnesota Vikings News and Links: What Will We Talk About Until Training Camp?)
- 2026-03-08 — Hilltopper Football Announces 2026 Staff Updates (Hilltopper Football Announces 2026 Staff Updates)
- 2026-06-20 — 2026 NFL Offseason Buzz: Titans Sign Jeffery Simmons To Record Deal (2026 NFL Offseason Buzz: Titans Sign Jeffery Simmons To Record Deal)
- 2026-06-09 — QB questions for all 32 NFL teams: Contracts, injuries, more (QB questions for all 32 NFL teams: Contracts, injuries, more)
- 2026-05-18 — Ranking the 10 worst QB rooms in NFL entering 2026; starting predictions for Week 1 (Ranking the 10 worst QB rooms in NFL entering 2026; starting predictions for Week 1)
- 2026-06-16 — How Brendan Sorsby's NFL supplemental draft process will work and potential landing spots (How Brendan Sorsby's NFL supplemental draft process will work and potential landing spots)
- 2026-06-18 — 2026 NFL Offseason Buzz: Chargers Adjusting QB Justin Herbert's Footwork (2026 NFL Offseason Buzz: Chargers Adjusting QB Justin Herbert's Footwork)
- 2026-06-18 — Breaking down the spring of Geno Smith, for the QB and his offense: Jets notebook (Breaking down the spring of Geno Smith, for the QB and his offense: Jets notebook)
- 2026-06-16 — Which NFL teams should consider Brendan Sorsby in supplemental draft? - The Athletic (Which NFL teams should consider Brendan Sorsby in supplemental draft? - The Athletic)
- 2026-06-04 — Ranking the NFL’s 32 Backup QBs of 2026: Jameis Winston Cracks the Top Five (Ranking the NFL’s 32 Backup QBs of 2026: Jameis Winston Cracks the Top Five)