The Kansas City Chiefs made major changes behind Patrick Mahomes this offseason, bringing in Bailey Zappe and Gardner Minshew as backup options. Carson Wentz remains a free agent and wasn't brought back or managed to find another landing spot in a surprising move.
Making the moves even better is the fact that Minshew was starting last season for a division rival. Stealing the veteran from the Las Vegas Raiders makes the move even better and provides needed security behind the league's best starter.
However, the same cannot be said of Zappe, who has quickly become a camp afterthought. The preseason performance was enough for fans to wonder if the former Patriot would even make the final roster. While Zappe has starting experience, it became glaringly obvious why the Patriots were so willing to move on.
The quarterback consistently put the ball in harm's way and missed the obvious throws during his time with New England.
Preseason showed that little has changed with Zappe throwing two awful interceptions and going 8/17 for 70 yards. Chris Oladokun's percentage wasn't better, but at least the quarterback didn't throw the ball to the wrong team. All leaves reason to wonder if Zappe might become a surprise roster cut.
Chiefs Must Consider Cutting Struggling QB Bailey Zappe
Oladokun offers far more upside in an emergency role, being able to run a more varied playbook. Zappe has more experience, but this isn't always a positive, with the backup now having a very limited ceiling. Still, this isn't a concern for the Chiefs, who have every reason to feel great about the quarterback room they have put together.
Mahomes remains among the league's most durable starters and rarely misses snaps. Watching the punishment the star has taken over the years while remaining on the field helps paint the picture of why he remains the league's best at the position. Add in the vast starting experience of Minshew, and the duo gets all of the focus at the position.
Zappe's struggles aren't truly a concern, with another option competing with the veteran and time still remaining to find another emergency quarterback if needed. Zappe's struggles are to be expected, both based on how difficult Reid's offense is and the evident lack of talent of the former Patriot. It wouldn't be at all surprising to see the team opt to turn the page before the regular season and find a better answer.