Chiefs Signing Shocking QB in Wake of Roster Cutdown Day

The Kansas City Chiefs cut their roster down to 53 players on Tuesday. Now, they have to fill out their 16-player practice squad. This will include players the Chiefs cut but want to keep around, as well as new faces who weren't able to make the final roster elsewhere.

GM Brett Veach didn't lose any time making a significant move in the wake of the roster cuts. According to Ian Rapoport, the Chiefs are signing quarterback Bailey Zappe to the practice squad.

NFL News: Chiefs Sign Former Patriots QB Bailey Zappe

The Chiefs are entering the season with two quarterbacks on the final roster like they did last year. Carson Wentz, as one of the better QB2s in the league, will be sufficient to back Patrick Mahomes up to start the season. This meant that the Chiefs were always going to have another quarterback on the practice squad.

Instead of bringing back Chris Oladokun or Ian Book to the practice squad, the Chiefs wanted to go for a more experienced player in Zappe.

Zappe has extensive starting experience for a practice squad QB. In his first two years in the NFL, he started eight games, going 4-4 despite an underwhelming Patriots squad. He has 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions and a 78.5 passer rating for his career.

The former fourth-round pick out of Western Kentucky was squeezed out of the Patriots' crowded quarterback room. They drafted Drake Maye with the third overall pick, signed veteran Jacoby Brissett, and also brought in intriguing rookie Joe Milton. Even though Zappe did relatively well after taking over from Mac Jones last year, it wasn't enough to warrant a roster spot among the higher-upside quarterbacks in New England.

For the Chiefs, however, Zappe is an excellent QB3. He could provide a safety blanket in the disastrous scenario that Mahomes misses some time or Wentz goes down.

More Chiefs news and rumors: