New York Jets sign QB Bailey Zappe

Bailey Zappe's signing with the Jets earns a C Contract Value Index (CVI) — a contract that reflects his role as a depth quarterback rather than a franchise asset. At $1.215M on a one-year deal, this is a league-minimum commitment that carries minimal financial risk and zero guaranteed dollars; the Jets are essentially paying replacement-level wages for a backup with limited NFL experience and below-average production relative to starter expectations. The value equation here is straightforward: the organization is hedging against injuries to its primary quarterback room without any meaningful salary-cap strain, and Zappe's contract carries no dead-cap consequences if released. The C grade acknowledges that while this deal is defensible from a risk-management standpoint — cheap depth is never a bad idea in the NFL — it also signals no confidence in Zappe as a long-term piece or emergency starter; teams don't commit eight figures to players they believe in. With the Jets sitting at 3-14 and in organizational flux heading into the 2026 regular season, this is a low-stakes filler move that neither adds value nor creates leverage — exactly the kind of marginal transaction that defines a rebuilding roster short on ready-now talent.