Bill Belichick not ready to name Matt Corral as backup quarterback

Bill Belichick is a coach of mystery when it comes to placing his quarterbacks on a depth chart. Maybe Matt Corral is the chief backup. Or perhaps it’s Bailey Zappe.

Whoever is second-string will serve as backup to Mac Jones. It’s definitely been a convoluted year for Patriots quarterbacks and their season opener still is five days away.

In the weeks after the 2022 season ended without a playoff spot, Belichick talked about an open competition for the starting quarterback job between Jones and Zappe. Jones, the team’s top selection in the 2021 draft, had regressed from his rookie season. And Zappe, the Patriots fourth-round pick from 2022, started two games last fall, winning them both.

But Jones now is a firm starter. That appears to be the only sure fact. It’s all because Belichick cut Zappe and rookie Malik Cunningham when New England needed to trim its roster to 53. For a day, the Patriots only had one quarterback. Then they signed Matt Corral, the former Ole Miss star, who’d been cut by the Panthers. Belichick risked another team signing Zappe off the waiver wire to make these moves.

So does that mean Matt Corral is the backup?

“Yeah, I don’t know,” says Belichick. “He hasn’t even been on the field yet. We’ll see.”

Before signing Matt Corral, Belichick considered two veteran QBs

Ready for more confusion? After the Patriots cut to 53, Belichick liked the idea of signing a veteran, who could back up Jones and maybe serve as a mentor. They reportedly considered Colt McCoy and Case Keenum. McCoy was a surprise cut by the Cardinals and he’s still available as a free agent. The Patriots would need to trade with the Texans for Keenum.

Belichick admits he was intrigued by Corral.

“We’ll take a look at him and see how it goes,” Belichick told WEEI. “(Corral) had a very good career at Mississippi, and hasn’t really had a lot of chances to do much in the last two years. *He) was injured and missed some time. But (he) had a good preseason, so we’ll see how it goes. Look forward to working with him.”

As for Zappe, Belichick said: “There’s a number of things involved there. But glad to have Bailey to continue to work with him. Still think he’s a good, young, developing player, and so we’ll keep working with him.”

Currently, Jones and Matt Corral are on the active roster. Zappe and Cunningham, who could be either a quarterback or receiver, are on the practice squad. Because of a new rule change, each team can carry a third, emergency quarterback, on game day. The third quarterback plays only in the top two are injured.

So when the Patriots play host to the Eagles this Sunday, check out the depth chart. Maybe there will be some order with the quarterbacks.