As far as NFL backups go, you can’t get much better than current Los Angeles Chargers quarterback and former Washington Commanders starter Taylor Heinicke.
Heinicke’s experience and ability to adapt to seemingly any offense and any locker room has not only extended his NFL career — created his career in a way — and continues to make him a valuable asset to NFL teams.
It’s made Heinicke valuable enough that Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox put Heinicke at the top of his list of NFL quarterbacks who should be on the trade block.
“Taylor Heinicke is a high-end backup teams should call about now,” Knox wrote. “The Los Angeles Chargers won’t be inclined to part with Justin Herbert’s understudy for cheap — Heinicke is fully capable of steering the offense for a week or two if needed—but he could become available. Heinicke, who was traded to the Chargers last August, is competing for the backup job with Trey Lance, who should have far more long-term backup potential. There doesn’t appear to be a clear QB2 just yet.”
Heinicke was traded from the Atlanta Falcons to the Chargers in August 2024 in exchange for a 2025 seventh round pick. The Chargers thought enough of Heinicke after one season as Herbert’s backup to sign him to a 1-year, $2.5 million contract on March 13.
Heinicke Started Playoff Game for Commanders
Heinicke started for the Commanders in a playoff game following the 2020 season the became the team’s primary starter for the next 2 seasons.
Heinicke signed a 2-year, $14 million contract with the Falcons in March 2023 and backed up Desmond Ridder, who flamed out as Heinicke became the starter late in the year. Heinicke was presumed to be the backup to free agent signee Kirk Cousins in 2024 until the Falcons shocked the football world and drafted Michael Penix Jr. at No. 8 overall.
That led to Heinicke’s trade to the Chargers, who ended up in the playoffs in 2024 and lost in the AFC Wild Card Round.
Going From Undrafted to NFL Starting QB
Heinicke was the FCS National Freshman of the Year at Old Dominion in 2011 then won the Walter Payton Award as the nation’s best FCS player in 2012. He continued to shine as ODU transitioned from FCS to the FBS, playing as an independent in 2013 and in Conference USA in 2014.
Heinicke ended his college career with 14,959 passing yards to go with 1,320 rushing yards and 154 total touchdowns.
After going undrafted in 2015, Heinicke spent four seasons as a backup or practice squad player for the Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots, Houston Texans and Carolina Panthers before he was out of football completely by 2019.
Heinicke was in the middle of taking classes to finish his engineering degree at ODU when he signed with the Commanders in December 2020.
After an injury to starter Alex Smith, he wound up starting a 31-23 NFC Wild Card playoff loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. That day, he turned heads with his play, throwing for 304 yards and 1 touchdown while rushing for another score.
Through 9 NFL seasons, Heinicke has approximately $17.3 million in career earnings.
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