The Los Angeles Chargers' backup quarterback competition seems to be over. Trey Lance has outplayed Taylor Heinicke throughout the preseason and seems ready to jump past him on the depth chart.
Heinicke's preseason struggles have put him in danger of being cut this week. But after Las Vegas Raiders coach Pete Carroll's latest quotes, it looks like the Chargers might be able to get something for him in a trade.
This could be the perfect way to take advantage of a division rival's desperation.
Chargers could trade Taylor Heinicke to Raiders amid Pete Carroll's QB search
Per NFL insider Andrew Siciliano, Carroll has said that the Raiders are looking to add another QB after Aidan O'Connell's injury. O'Connell, who was set to be Geno Smith's backup, is set to miss a large chunk of the season after sustaining a wrist injury in the Raiders' preseason finale.
Carroll said, "We're looking for an experienced player who can help us."
If there's one thing Heinicke has, it's experience. He's played seven seasons in the NFL and has worked in a variety of systems. He even spent most of the 2021 season as the Washington Commanders' starting quarterback.
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Heinicke is on the roster bubble after his poor performance in the preseason. He's completed under 50% of his passes over the last three weeks and has failed to throw a touchdown pass. Meanwhile, Trey Lance has consistently impressed with his dual-threat ability. Unless the Chargers decide to keep three quarterbacks on their roster, Heinicke is as good as gone.
But if there's a trade market for him, why not at least test the waters? It's better to get a future eventh-round draft pick for the veteran than to let him go for free.
Heinicke won't be the top veteran QB on the trade block this week. Names like Anthony Richardson, Kenny Pickett, and even Kyle Trask will likely get more trade buzz. But as teams get desperate for experience behind their starting passers, it's worth seeing if a Heinicke trade is possible.
Of course, trading within the division isn't usually the best course of action. You never want to see your former player help a rival team succeed. But if Heinicke is going to be cut this week anyway, there's nothing holding the Chargers back from sending him to Las Vegas. Heinicke's performance shouldn't make Chargers fans nervous about his influence on another team anyway.