Patriots QB Jacoby Brissett addresses 'elephant in the room'

Even veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett seems to understand that 2022 fourth-round draft pick Bailey Zappe likely has no long-term future with the New England Patriots after the club grabbed both Drake Maye and Joe Milton III during this year's player-selection process.

"Man, I like Zap a lot. He just goes out there and competes," Brissett told reporters following Wednesday's practice, per Karen Guregian of MassLive. "And, the elephant in the room ... this is a tough situation for him, and he’s accepted that. He’s going out there every day, and competed, and is doing a really good job, and making a lot of plays. I’m excited for his growth."

Zappe campaigned for the right to compete with a rookie for the starting job before New England signed Brissett to help in part serve as a mentor for whoever they drafted with their first-round pick, which was ultimately Maye. Additionally, logic suggests the Patriots didn't spend a sixth-round pick on Milton to give up on him before September.

Mark Daniels of MassLive passes along that Maye took fewer 11-on-11 reps than Brissett and Zappe in work on Wednesday. Nevertheless, Brissett noted that he has been impressed by how Maye has already developed ahead of training camp practices.

"Every time you step out on this field, you have to make strides to get better at something," Brissett said about conversations he's had with Maye. "I think he’s accepted that. Obviously, he wants to go out there and be perfect. We know that’s not possible for any of us right now. He’s going out there and making corrections from the day before and honestly adding more things to who he’s going to become as a player. I’m excited for him. I see the work he’s putting in. He’s doing a good job."

For his part, Zappe acknowledged that "we all want to be the starter" even though he probably realizes the reality of his situation. Zappe could become New England's temporary QB1 if Brissett suffers an injury between now and the regular-season opener at the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 8, but the 25-year-old realistically should hope that a team in need of a proven backup comes calling about his services in August or early September.