Bailey Zappe Signed Away from the Kansas City Chiefs

In the NFL’s competitive roster landscape, the Kansas City Chiefs recently lost practice squad quarterback Bailey Zappe to another team— a move that highlights the league’s constant demand for QB depth and raises questions about the Chiefs’ positional adjustments. Zappe, a young signal-caller with college stardom and NFL experience, had been a key practice squad contributor for the Chiefs early in the season, aiding defensive preparation. While not a high-profile departure, it underscores the challenge of retaining promising talent when opportunities arise elsewhere. Bailey Zappe Signed Away from the Kansas City Chiefs explores his time in Kansas City, the factors behind his exit, and what it means for both his career and the Chiefs’ QB room.

Bailey Zappe Signed Away from the Kansas City Chiefs starts with Zappe’s path to the Chiefs. A record-setting college QB at Western Kentucky (5,967 passing yards, 62 touchdowns in one season), he was a 2022 fourth-round pick by the New England Patriots. After two seasons with limited action (four starts in 2022) and the Patriots drafting a new QB in 2023, Zappe joined the Chiefs’ practice squad in September 2024. His role focused on simulating opposing QBs in practice to prep the defense, plus serving as emergency depth behind Patrick Mahomes and Chad Henne. “Bailey was a reliable addition—he learned fast and helped our defense weekly,” noted a Chiefs offensive assistant.

Bailey Zappe Signed Away from the Kansas City Chiefs continues with the circumstances of his departure. In mid-October 2024, an NFL team (facing QB injuries—starter out with a knee issue, backup with a concussion) needed an immediate signal-caller. Leveraging the NFL’s practice squad rules (which let teams sign players to active rosters), they targeted Zappe for his starting experience and pro-style offense familiarity. The team offered a one-year deal with guaranteed salary— a promotion Zappe couldn’t refuse, as it moved him from the practice squad to an active roster spot. “This is the chance I’ve worked for,” Zappe said. “I’m thankful to the Chiefs, but excited to contribute elsewhere.”

Bailey Zappe Signed Away from the Kansas City Chiefs shifts to the impact on the Kansas City Chiefs. With Zappe gone, the Chiefs’ practice squad had no dedicated QB, leaving only Mahomes and Henne on the active roster. While Mahomes is durable (missing just two games), relying on one backup creates risk. To fix this, the Chiefs quickly signed a new practice squad QB— a former undrafted free agent with prior practice squad experience— within a week. “QB depth is non-negotiable,” said Chiefs GM Brett Veach. “Losing Bailey hurt, but we acted fast to find a replacement who can prep the defense and provide insurance. For the Kansas City Chiefs, this stability is key to competing.”

Bailey Zappe Signed Away from the Kansas City Chiefs delves into broader implications for the Kansas City Chiefs and the NFL. Practice squads, meant to develop talent, now often feed other teams’ rosters. For the Chiefs, investing in Zappe only to lose him feels like a setback— but it also proves their ability to identify promising players. “It’s a double-edged sword,” said a Chiefs executive. “We hate losing good talent, but other teams wanting our practice squad players shows our scouting and coaching work. For the Kansas City Chiefs, that’s a testament to our staff.” The NFL’s CBA lets practice squad players sign with active rosters anytime, so teams like the Chiefs must accept occasional departures.

Bailey Zappe Signed Away from the Kansas City Chiefs wraps up with Zappe’s future and the Chiefs’ takeaways. For Zappe, joining a team with immediate QB needs gives him a shot to prove himself— a strong performance could secure a long-term deal. For the Chiefs, the experience reinforces the need to build deep practice squads. Moving forward, they may use “futures contracts” earlier in the offseason to boost stability and rely on their scouting network to quickly replace departures. “Every loss teaches us something,” Veach said. “We’ll refine our practice squad strategy to keep the depth needed for success. For the Kansas City Chiefs, adapting is how we stay a contender.” In the end, it’s a story of opportunity: Zappe gets a chance to shine, while the Chiefs learn to maintain a championship-caliber roster amid talent moves.