Taylor Heinicke
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We break down why the Detroit Lions should sign Taylor Heinicke as a potential QB3 to serve as another backup to Jared Goff.
Taylor Heinicke has made a career out of being one of the more reliable backup quarterbacks in the NFL in recent years. He’s been thrown into playoff games and plenty of emergency starts and has done a relatively decent job overall.
For a Detroit Lions squad with Super Bowl aspirations and an opening at QB3, his experience might be the kind of insurance policy that could be attractive to head coach Dan Campbell and company.
“With a clear preference towards veteran quarterbacks capable of running an NFL offense over a developmental type, here are some free agent options that fit that prototype: former Lions Nate Sudfeld and Tim Boyle, or non-former Lions like John Wolford (Goff’s former teammate), Taylor Heinicke, or Mike White,” Pride of Detroit’s Jeremy Reisman wrote on September 1.
After his recent release from the Los Angeles Chargers, Heinicke is currently available and the most experienced of the players Reisman mentioned. Let’s discuss.
A Look Back at Heinicke’s NFL Career
Taylor Heinicke
GettyShould the Detroit Lions sign quarterback Taylor Heinicke?
Heinicke’s career began as an undrafted free agent out of Old Dominion in 2015. After short stints with the Vikings, Patriots, Texans and Panthers, he finally found his footing in Washington.
There, he delivered a memorable performance, throwing for 306 yards and a touchdown while adding a rushing score in a near-upset of the eventual champion Buccaneers. That effort earned him a longer leash, and in 2021 he started 16 games, and finished with over 3,400 passing yards and 20 touchdowns. Though not always polished, he proved he was capable of running an offense.
In 2022, Heinicke once again found himself thrust into action after Carson Wentz’s injury, and his steady play kept Washington in the playoff conversation. He later signed with the Falcons, where injuries and inconsistency limited his impact.
A trade to the Chargers in 2024 offered him another chance to contribute, where he served as depth behind Justin Herbert.
Over his seven seasons in the league, he has played in 42 games, starting 29. In those starts, he has a record of 13-15-1, completing 62.5% of his passes.
Why the Detroit Lions May Want to Sign Veteran QB Taylor Heinicke
Heinicke’s experience is exactly what should interest the Lions. Detroit, now left thin after moving on from Hendon Hooker, has a strong starting duo in Jared Goff and Kyle Allen, but no depth behind them. Heinicke would be a great addition in that he could likely process the playbook quickly and keep the offense at least semi-functional if disaster strikes.
“We’re looking for somebody, that if we need them, we know they can run the show,” Campbell added, via Pride of Detroit. “They can run the offense, they can process the information—more than, can we find a guy to develop that’s unknown, all of those. I’d rather have a guy, somebody that certainly if we’re familiar with or somebody you just know they get in the game, they’re going to get you in the right play, be smart with the football, and all of those things.”
“We’re still working through that actively,” Lions general manager Brad Holmes said when asked about the team’s vacant QB3 role. “It could happen today, it could happen tomorrow. We will add another quarterback.”
Sometimes, the smartest moves are the quietest ones, and signing Heinicke to round out the quarterback room might be one of those.