Is Mac Jones or Bailey Zappe the Patriots Starting Quarterback in 2023? Fantasy Football Outlook

The 2022 New England Patriots football season saw second-year quarterback Mac Jones start 14 games, while rookie signal caller Bailey Zappe took the first snap in two contests. Jones regressed from his rookie season, while Zappe played well in limited action.

Naturally, an offseason quarterback controversy is underway for Bill Belichick's team, and the Patriots are usually the toughest organization to get a read on.

How did Jones and Zappe perform in 2022 and who still start for New England in 2023? Let's dive in.

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Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe 2022 Season Review

In four games of action, Zappe completed 65 of his 92 passing attempts (70.7 percent) for 781 yards, five touchdowns, and three interceptions. He won both of his starts against the Detroit Lions and Cleveland Browns but struggled in relief of Jones in Week 7 against the Chicago Bears.

Ultimately, Jones was handed back the keys to the offense and Zappe did not appear in a game after Week 7. However, some Patriots fans believe Zappe should have gotten more opportunities and they might've been right.

Jones posted a 6-8 record as a starter, completing 288 of his 442 passing attempts (65.2 percent) for 2,997 yards, 14 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. He regressed in every statistical passing category, but a lot of the struggles are attributed to the change from Josh McDaniels to Matt Patricia as offensive coordinator.

Is Mac Jones or Bailey Zappe the Patriots Starting Quarterback?

Belichick hinted that the team will have a competition at quarterback in 2023 between Jones and Zappe. "Everybody will get a chance to play," Belichick said. "We'll play the best player."

Owner Robert Kraft continues to support Jones publicly. The addition of offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien should put Jones in a better position to succeed again, but he'll have to win the job over Zappe in training camp this summer.  Even if Jones remains the team's starter in 2023, he'll be an unappealing low-end QB2 in fantasy. The same goes for Zappe if he earns the starting nod.

For now, it's tough to say who will start for New England, but Jones is likely the decent favorite since he was taken in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft.

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