One week after the season, the Jets signed quarterback Bailey Zappe on Monday to add much-needed depth to the roster.
Bailey Zappe Signs With Jets
Veteran QB Bailey Zappe is signing a futures deal with the Jets, per source. pic.twitter.com/xVrX6oIrko
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero)
Per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Jets signed Zappe to a futures deal — a non-guaranteed contract for one year.
On a futures deal, the Jets can add Zappe to the roster for the offseason workouts without money counting toward the salary cap.
Many teams sign several players to futures deals at the end of the season. This locks those players into minicamp and training camp for the next season.
The New England Patriots selected Western Kentucky’s Zappe in the fourth round of the 2022 draft.
Zappe played in four games during his rookie season and started twice (2-0).
In 2023, Zappe started six games (2-4) after the Patriots benched Mac Jones. Zappe completed 127 of 212 for 1,272 yards, six touchdowns, and nine interceptions.
Following the season, Zappe signed with the Kansas City Chiefs’ practice squad before joining the Cleveland Browns in October 2024. Zappe started the Browns’ Week 18 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
Zappe spent the 2025 offseason with the Chiefs before joining the Browns’ practice squad.
Zappe has thrown for 2,223 yards, 12 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions in 15 games.
Zappe is not the long-term plan at quarterback. However, Zappe could be in the mix for the third-string job or a practice squad spot.
Jets’ Quarterback Plans
The New York Jets enter the offseason looking for a quarterback.
During Aaron Glenn’s first year, the team signed Justin Fields to a two-year, $40 million contract, with $30 million guaranteed.
By the end of the 2025 campaign, Glenn benched Fields for Tyrod Taylor. When Taylor suffered an injury, the Jets elected to play Brady Cook instead of Fields.
Barring a last-minute change of heart, Fields will not be on the team next season.
The ideal option for the Jets would be to trade Fields. However, the likelier option is to release Fields, which would trigger a $22 million dead cap hit that can be spread out over the next two years.
Without Fields, the Jets are looking for a new No. 1 quarterback.
After a 3-14 season, the Jets secured the No. 2 pick in the NFL Draft. It’s a prime position for a quarterback, and this year’s class has two at the top of the class: Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza and Oregon’s Dante Moore.
The Las Vegas Raiders are expected to take a quarterback, so the Jets will probably take the other quarterback. Mendoza and Moore still need to declare for the draft.