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The New England Patriots were blessed with the greatest quarterback of all time for nearly two decades. Tom Brady was a gift from the football gods for fans in New England for such a long time, but now that he's gone, they don't know how to feel about any of his replacements.
The truth of the matter is, there will never be another Tom Brady. Mac Jones isn't him, nor is Bailey Zappe. However, one of the aforementioned will be the team's starting QB this September.
Who is the Patriots starting signal caller in Week 1 of the 2o23 NFL season? Is it Jones or Zappe? Let's take a look at the reports and find the answer.
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Who Is The Patriots Starting Quarterback In 2023?
Many football savants say that a star quarterback really doesn't develop into one until year three of his NFL career. Well, guess what? Mac Jones is entering year three of his NFL career.
Although most reports indicate Jones has been very good early in workouts and practices this offseason, it doesn't appear the starting job is set in stone. The former Alabama QB regressed in 2022, but many believe it was mostly due to poor coaching and a clueless offensive coordinator. The Patriots changed all that this year by letting go of their OC and bringing in a familiar face and trusted voice in Bill O'Brien.
Does this significant coaching change automatically mean number 10 will thrive in his new system and become that third-year star some are predicting? Absolutely not, and head coach Bill Belichick has not exactly sung his praises since Jones's arrival in 2021. Complicating matters is that the team feels they have a very capable backup in Zappe, a 2022 fourth-round draft pick.
Which QB Offers Fantasy Value In 2023?
Although both Jones and Zappe have been receiving first-team reps at mini-camps this month, beat reporters have continually suggested that the former is well ahead of the latter on the depth chart. He has looked sharper, more proficient, and even seems more mature than a season ago according to the eyes on him this spring.
Last season, Jones completed just 65% of his passes for 2,997 yards and 14 touchdowns along with an ugly 11 interceptions. If he wants to keep his starting job, he's going to have to improve drastically in 2023 and make a name for himself in the NFL.
Zappe currently offers almost no fantasy football value this upcoming season, and Mac isn't going off any fantasy draft boards in the first few rounds this summer. In two-quarterback leagues, the 24-year-old Jones does offer some value as a QB2, and in standard leagues, with some new weapons around him, he does have the potential to make an impact. The main thing fantasy managers will want to monitor early this fall is how much improvement Mac has made, and if it's enough to warrant a roster spot at some point in 2023.
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