Taylor Heinicke

Jayden Daniels has seized the Commanders' starting gig with his dual-threat wizardry, leaving Taylor Heinicke's gritty backup days in the rearview—Heinicke owns 6,663 yards and 39 TDs from spot starts like that wild 2021 playoff run, but Daniels' legs and arm evoke a young RGIII upgrade. Heinicke's no slouch, just the reliable journeyman to Daniels' supernova.

Taylor Heinicke ain't in Canton, and let's be real, his 6,663 yards and 39 TDs as an undrafted scrapper don't scream bust-enlarger like the legends. He's the ultimate pro's pro, bouncing from Vikings to Chargers without a whiff of gold jacket talk—hall voters love flash, not Heinicke's quiet competence.

Fresh off the Chargers cutting him in August '25 after losing the backup scrap to Trey Lance, Heinicke's a free agent hunting practice squad scraps or maybe a UFL reunion. No broadcasting gigs or charity headlines yet—just a 32-year-old vet plotting his next clipboard hold, Herbert-style.

Heinicke's quick release and poise would feast in today's pass-happy NFL with no-touch flags and RPOs everywhere—think his 27.4-ish rating spiking like Sam Howell's did briefly. Spot starter forever, but modern rules turn his Old Dominion gunslinger vibe into a poor man's Geno Smith, carving backups into 3,000-yard seasons.

Both Commanders QBs with that franchise grit, but Joe Theismann's 52.07 passer rating towers over Heinicke's 27.45—Joe slung Super Bowl rings in the '80s murk, while Taylor's feisty fills echo Theismann's underdog fire without the hardware. Heinicke's the discount double-check, Joe the original deal.