The New England Patriots made a surprising move on Tuesday, cutting their backup quarterbacks, Bailey Zappe and Malik Cunningham, ahead of the 53-man roster deadline. The decision left the Patriots with only one quarterback on their active roster: rookie Mac Jones, who won the starting job over veteran Cam Newton, who was released last week.
Why did the Patriots cut both of their backup QBs for Mac Jones? Here are some possible reasons:
- The Patriots needed roster spots for injured players. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Patriots cut Zappe and Cunningham to create roster spots for players they wanted to place on short-term injured reserve, such as wide receiver Tyquan Thornton. To do that, they had to carry those players through the initial 53-man cut-down and then move them to IR after. The Patriots reportedly plan to bring back Zappe and Cunningham to their practice squad if they clear waivers.
- The Patriots wanted to save money and cap space. By cutting Zappe and Cunningham, the Patriots saved about $1.5 million in salary and cap space, according to ESPN’s Mike Reiss. Zappe was due to make $850,000 in base salary this season, while Cunningham was due to make $660,000. Both players were also eligible for performance-based pay bonuses. The Patriots could use that extra money and cap space to sign other players or extend some of their own
- The Patriots did not see Zappe and Cunningham as good fits for their offense. Zappe and Cunningham struggled in the preseason, showing inconsistency and inaccuracy in running the Patriots’ offense. Zappe completed 58.8% of his passes for 253 yards, one touchdown, and no interceptions while taking six sacks. Cunningham completed 55.6% of his passes for 146 yards, no touchdowns, and one interception while taking four bags. Neither player showed much improvement from last season when they saw some action as backups for Newton and Jones. Zappe started two games and played in four, throwing for 781 yards, five touchdowns, and three interceptions. Cunningham played in three games, throwing for 122 yards, no touchdowns and one interception
The Patriots cut both of their backup QBs for Mac Jones because they believed Jones was ready to be the undisputed leader of their offense. Jones impressed the coaches and teammates with his poise, accuracy, decision-making, and playbook command throughout training camp and preseason. Jones completed 69% of his passes for 389 yards, one touchdown, and no interceptions while taking three sacks. He also showed the ability to run a fast-paced, no-huddle offense, something that Newton and the backups struggled with
The Patriots are confident that Jones can handle the pressure and expectations of being the franchise quarterback for a team that has won six Super Bowls under Bill Belichick and Tom Brady. They are also confident they can find a suitable backup for Jones if needed, either from their practice squad, the waiver wire, or free agency. The Patriots have shown in the past that they can win with backup quarterbacks such as Matt Cassel, Jimmy Garoppolo, and Jacoby Brissett when Brady was injured or suspended.
The Patriots cut both of their backup QBs for Mac Jones because they believe Jones is their franchise’s future and the best option for their offense right now. They are willing to take the risk of having only one quarterback on their roster for now because they trust that Jones can stay healthy and perform at a high level in his rookie season.
