5 options to upgrade the Detroit Lions backup quarterback situation

With Carson Wentz in place as the starter now in Washington, Heinicke made it clear he knows his place in the quarterback pecking order.

"I don’t think that’s an option,” he said of his chances at reclaiming QB1 duties. “You look at the NFL and, at the end of the day, it’s kind of a business. And if you’re paying someone $30 million and you’re paying someone else $2 million, you’re paying this guy $30 million to play, you know? And that’s not me — you know, Carson’s a great QB…Again, my job is just to back him up…and if for some reason he goes down, I’m ready to go play. … But again, the NFL’s a business. If you’re paying a guy a lot of money, you’re paying him money for a reason. He’s gonna go play.”"

Heinicke started 15 games last season, with a level of play that begged for an upgrade (20 touchdowns, 15 interceptions, 85.9 passer rating). He also started a playoff game in 2020 though, and played well enough (26-for-44 for 306 yards, one touchdown, one interception; 46 rushing yards and a touchdown) for Washington to have the eventual Super Bowl champion Buccaneers on the ropes in a game they lost by eight.

The Commanders stopped Sam Howell’s fall during April’s draft in the fifth round. That theoretically give them another good option behind Wentz. On any notion Heinicke would be available in a trade, there are teams out there in need of an upgrade to their backup situation who should have interest. Ian Wharton of Bleacher Report recently offered the Cincinnati Bengals as a team that should make a deal for Heinicke.

Washington would be smart to keep Heinicke around, given Wentz’s injury history and his history of up-and-down play. But smart and that organization still don’t often come together in the same sentence. The Lions could be ready to offer a Day 3 draft pick at some point, and if they’re turned down move on quickly.