Browns have unique opportunity to set an NFL quarterback record against Ravens

Bailey Zappe time would make NFL history

In Saturday‘s divisional matchup against the Baltimore Ravens, the Cleveland Browns have the opportunity to set an NFL record for quarterbacks: the most starting quarterbacks in consecutive seasons.

Last year, Cleveland started five signal callers: Deshaun Watson, Dorian Thompson-Robinson (DTR), P.J. Walker, Joe Flacco, and Jeff Driskel. That matched the record for the most starts in a single season in NFL history with the 1987 New England Patriots who started Steve Grogan, Tom Ramsey, Tony Eason, Bob Bleier, and Doug Flutie.

This year, the Browns have started Watson, DTR, and Jameis Winston. On the roster is Bailey Zappe who came to Cleveland when he was signed October 22 away from the practice squad of the Kansas City Chiefs. He has yet to take a snap for the Browns but is on the main roster.

After Watson became injured this year, Winston was inked as the starter but was benched after tossing 13 interceptions in just seven games. DTR has taken the reins since Week 16 versus the Cincinnati Bengals and then started the following week in a 20-3 loss to the Miami Dolphins.

But like Winston, DTR is turnover-prone giving up six picks plus one fumble in just 115 passing attempts. It is very possible that the DTR “get experience” experiment is over.

Most likely, Winston and DTR have played their final game with Cleveland. The Browns will need three capable bodies for the QB room going into the 2025 training camp. Is Zappe one of those? The coaching staff won’t know unless they see him in live action.

That could come on Saturday. And if so, they will have started the most quarterbacks of any franchise in the history of the league in consecutive seasons with nine.

Cleveland has started four QBs in several seasons before. In 2008, Derek Anderson, Brady Quinn, Ken Dorsey, and Bruce Gradkowski had started. Former head coach Marty Schottenheimer could not keep a healthy guy under center in 1988 with Bernie Kosar, Mike Pagel, Don Strock, and Gary Danielson.

It only makes sense to play Zappe (6’-1”, 215 pounds) against Baltimore. He has talent.

He had a ton of accolades while playing for Western Kentucky as a senior in 2021. Zappe was the Conference USA Most Valuable Player, named First Team All C-USA, won the Earl Campbell Award, was voted the Boca Raton Bowl MVP, plus set two college football records: Most passing yards in a single season (5,967), and Most passing touchdowns in a single season (62). He was then invited to the Senior Bowl.

The Patriots drafted him in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL draft.

In his rookie campaign, Zappe had two starts and won both games with a 100.9 QB rating. The following season he played in 10 games for the Patriots and had six starts. But like DTR and especially Winston, he tossed 12 interceptions against 11 touchdowns.

He was a final-day cut in training camp this year and was subsequently signed by the Chiefs two days later as a practice squad member.

When asked in a media session regarding which of the three quarterbacks would start against the Ravens, head coach Kevin Stefanski did not commit to anybody. However, he did state that it was possible both DTR and Zappe could play but did not elaborate on who the starter would be. The record hinges on if Zappe is the starter, not if he plays.

Usually, NFL clubs invite four quarterbacks into training camp and keep three. If the Browns believe Zappe could be one of these for next year’s camp, action against a mighty team such as the Ravens will tell the coaching staff all they need to know about his game skills.

Or throw him on the pile along with DTR and Winston.