When the Falcons made the surprising decision to select quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 overall pick in this year’s draft, Taylor Heinicke’s hold on a roster spot suddenly became quite tenuous. Before the draft, Heinicke accepted a substantial pay cut to remain on the team as the presumptive backup to marquee free agent acquisition Kirk Cousins, though the Penix pick obviously altered expectations in a big way.
Penix worked with the third-team offense in minicamp, but the Falcons have always expected him to serve as the QB2 behind Cousins this year. D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution notes that Penix has flashed in the early stages of training camp, and that the club plans to keep two signal-callers on the roster with a third on the taxi squad. As such, Heinicke believes his stay with his hometown team is unlikely to last much longer.
“Yeah, I kind of see the writing on the wall,” Heinicke said after last night’s open practice. “It’s nothing that I haven’t been through before. So, I accept my role in any case. My role, for me, and what I think is to help Kirk any way that I can. If he has any questions. Same thing with Mike. Sometimes the game is fast. Sometimes everything is fast for rookies.”
Heinicke has 29 regular season starts in his NFL career and has compiled a 13-15-1 record. That includes a 1-3 mark with the Falcons last season, when he was promoted to the starting job in the wake of Desmond Ridder’s struggles. He completed 54.4% of his passes for 890 yards and five touchdowns against four picks, which amounts to a subpar quarterback rating of 74.7.
Still, Heinicke is just one year removed from signing a two-year, $14MM contract, a notable deal that underscores his value to an NFL club. While he is obviously not a bonafide QB1, he can at least keep a team afloat for a few games should that team’s starter be forced to miss time.
Ledbetter says Cousins will not take part in any preseason games. He suggests that Penix, Heinicke, and UDFA rookie John Paddock could be utilized in the exhibition contests, but assuming all goes according to plan, Atlanta may ultimately seek to deal Heinicke.
Now that Heinicke’s base salary has been reduced to $1.21MM, the Falcons could theoretically find a taker for an experienced backup on an eminently reasonable contract. The team could also cut Heinicke, but given the minimal cap savings such a transaction would yield, Atlanta may be better served by keeping him on board as a veteran mentor for Penix.
Heinicke should be getting a call from the Giants once they realize he would be an upgrade over Drew Lock.
Upgrade over Dan as well.
Lock is better what you mean lol. If anyone should call its bears. They need a veteran WB who’s played real ball
I wish God had made me a backup QB. $7 mil a year? Nice.
A life of easy money wouldn’t get you closer to heaven though, so he probably made the right decision.
A future Detroit Lion.
Replaces the retired Bridgewater as the Goff-insurance to avoid a complete implosion if injury, and he’s a clear upgrade over current #2 Sudfeld and eventual #2 Hooker, considering Hooker’s oft-noted ongoing struggle in adjusting his game from college to a pro system (footwork, timing, processing)
Falcons should be in contention for division if not more this year with some good bounces. They need a true insurance plan in the event Cousins misses a game or two. Penix might be the future, but I would have to believe Heinicke would be the more solid backup at this juncture. Given he is fairly low cost I really don’t see the point of moving him unless you could maybe get a 4th or higher, which is probably very doubtful.