Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Taylor Heinicke is seen as a player who could be traded to a team looking to improve its overall situation.
The Los Angeles Chargers currently have four quarterbacks on the roster, and with Justin Herbert locked in as the team's starter for the foreseeable future, all the team needs is a suitable backup.
With Taylor Heinicke, Trey Lance and D.J. Uiagalelei battling for reps in training camp and the eventual No. 2 job, other teams more needy at the position could come calling before the season starts.
Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report sees that being the case with Heinicke, one of the league's more seasoned backups. He lists the New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts as potential suitors and suggests that Heinicke could win the starting job for either of those teams.
Here was his analysis on the topic:
"While Cousins may not be a top trade target until later in the year, Taylor Heinicke is a high-end backup teams should call about now. 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.
"Right now, I don’t think there’s a depth chart to it,” offensive coordinator Greg Roman said, per The Athletic's Daniel Popper. “I think they’re both going to get opportunities, and we’ll see how that unfolds."
If Lance, the third overall pick in the 2021 draft, wins the backup job, Los Angeles may consider undrafted rookie DJ Uiagalelei as the emergency QB over Heinicke.
Teams that could use another potential bridge option in training camp, like the Colts and Saints, should see if Heinicke is available now. New Orleans' collection of quarterbacks—Jake Haener, Spencer Rattler, rookie second-round pick Tyler Shough and undrafted rookie Hunnter Dekkers—lacks experience. According to Jaclyn Hendricks of the New York Post, the Colts have seen both Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones "struggle" in early camp.
Heinicke, who has 29 career starts on his resume, might have a shot at winning the starting job in either New Orleans or Indianapolis."
That all sounds great for teams looking for another option at quarterback, but the Chargers should not look at the situation like they have an embarrassment of riches... they don't. The move to acquire Heinicke last year before the season started was the right one, as he was a major upgrade over Easton Stick. At the time, Heinicke was buried on the depth chart in Atlanta behind Kirk Cousins and Michael Penix, Jr.
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But the Chargers should strongly resist trading Heinicke, and anyone who is familiar with either Lance or Uiagalelei can vouch for that. Neither of them is a good option, and an emergency quarterback role is likely the ceiling for both players.
While the phones may ring with the Saints, Colts, or a different team on the line, the Chargers should stick with Heinicke unless they are completely blown away by an offer.
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