The Falcons invested heavily in the quarterback position this offseason. As a result, the team may be shopping their lone holdover at the position. As Josh Kendall of The Athletic writes, the Falcons staff is “behaving like it would prefer to get some trade value for Taylor Heinicke” vs. keeping him around as a QB3.
Heinicke had a successful run in Washington between 2021 and 2022, guiding his squad to a 12-11-1 record as a starter. That performance helped earn him a two-year, $14MM deal with his hometown Falcons last offseason, where he was expected to provide former third-round pick Desmond Ridder with some competition. Heinicke ultimately got four starts for Atlanta, going 1-3 while completing a career-low 54.4 percent of his passes.
The Falcons rebooted their QB position this offseason. First, they handed Kirk Cousins a lucrative contract, providing the organization with some veteran consistency at the position for the first time since the Matt Ryan era. The team later surprised many when they also added first-round QB Michael Penix Jr., a decision that definitively locked up a second QB spot on the 53-man roster.
While the team generally carried three QBs in 2023 while taking advantage of the league’s emergency quarterback spot, that might not be the case in 2024. Kendall says the team may prefer to just stash a young option on the practice squad as a QB3, and that means Heinicke (along with current QB4 Nathan Rourke) would likely be on the outside looking in.
While the Falcons would surely prefer to trade their quarterback, it may be easier said than done. Teams won’t be willing to give up a whole lot if they expect the Falcons to eventually cut Heinicke, and any QB-needy squads may just prefer to take their chances in a post-preseason bidding war. On the flip side, Heinicke doesn’t necessarily break the bank with his $4.5MM cap hit, and his starting experience could be valuable for teams seeking a dependable QB2. All the Falcons need is one suitor, but the team shouldn’t expect more than a late-round swap for the 31-year-old.
Trade him to Giants or Bengals for a fifth rounder
Then he would be the best QB on the Giants
Lol
Heinicke + Tommy Cutlets > Daniel Jones.
Bengals don’t need him. Browning is the backup.
And who’s behind browning? Who was behind Mahomes before Wentz signed? This is the nfl “need” is a very vague term in the grand scheme of things
This isn’t the 2015 Buckeyes in college football. Any NFL team on their 3rd string starter isn’t competing for anything. You don’t waste money and picks on QB3.
Who said anything about wasting money? I swear yall just argue to argue lmao
Heinecke has a base salary of $5M with a cap hold over $9M. I’d be shocked if anyone traded for him.
By that rationale sentinel, Atlanta should just keep him because all they got is a vet coming off injury and a very raw rookie and Rourke….who can’t hang on any NFL roster so far.
I mean…
He is a good backup QB, so I’m not saying Heinicke wouldn’t be worth a fifth round pick; but I’d be stunned if the Falcons get anything for him. Other GMs can see Atlanta has a crowded QB room, and they’ll probably just wait for him to get cut.
He’d be the best option for a few teams. The problem is they waited too long. The Raiders invested in Minshew to push O’Connel but I’d rather have Heinicke but they aren’t going to make these a three horse race. If the Falcons knew they were selecting Penix why would they wait the pick was a stretch for almost all the teams in the league he was going to be there. Should’ve traded him before teams cemented there plans for QB competitions around the league now his value is much lower. Maybe the Giants we know they don’t trust Jones
Not sure about O’Connel’s arm but I know Heinicke’s arm strength. Heinicke has succeeded based on pure will to win and football smarts. He might have the weakest arm in professional football. Heinicke is high floor, low ceiling. Not someone you want competing for anything, but ready on the bench if you lose QB1.
He’ll return a 7th or nothing at all.
Settle right now for $20
$10 and a box of envelopes?
Trade him to the Texans Stroud needs somebody to carry his bags and clean his locker
The hope is that the backup QB will win half of his games when he is called up. Heinicke is more than capable of stepping into the starting roll for an extended time. Bears, Ravens, Texans, Chiefs, Giants, and Chargers should all be thinking about a move right now.
Several starters struggle to win half their games so those probably aren’t the expectations you should have for a guy who spends most of his time carrying a clipboard. I think most HCs are happy if the backup can go in and not LOSE them the game with a terrible decision. If your backup can play a turnover free game and give the defense a chance to win then he’s basically done his job.
Several starters do struggle to win half their games and usually put their team in place to draft a QB. If the backup QB goes in and doesn’t LOSE with a bad decision and simply compliments the rest of the team, the HC can expect to win half the games.
Bad decisions and turnovers are quickest way for a QB to get demoted on the depth chart…lol.
After this weekend’s preseason games it should be apparent to some teams that they need a better backup than the one(s) they have. The Packers backups looked weak, as did the Chargers
“post-preseason” is my newest favorite word.
I’m not sure that will show up in a “Wheel of Fortune” puzzle but it would be hilarious if it did.
I’d much rather see the Lions trade for him if they want to continue to “develop” Hendon Hooker. Nate Sudfeld is terrible and if Goff ever goes down no Lions fans will be confident Sudfeld can get the job done until Goff comes back.