Taylor Heinicke has taken a salary reduction to stay with the Atlanta Falcons.
According to ESPN’s Michael Rothstein, the quarterback agreed to a pay cut from an expected $5 million base salary to $1.21 million this season. The Falcons re-classified his $1.32 million roster bonus as a signing bonus and eliminated a $40,000 bonus for every game he’s on the active roster.
The restructured deal lowers Heinicke’s 2024 cap hit from $8.96 million to $4.53 million with a $2.53 million cash value.
After three seasons with the Washington Commanders, Heinicke joined a Falcons quarterback room led by Desmond Ridder in 2023. The former undrafted free agent started four games, completing just 54.4 percent of his passes for 890 yards, five touchdowns, and four interceptions.
Heinicke has an 84.2 career quarterback rating, but he’s no longer a QB1 candidate in Atlanta. The Falcons signed another former Washinton passer, Kirk Cousins, to a four-year, $180 million deal.
Atlanta also traded Ridder to the Arizona Cardinals, leaving Heinicke as the only quarterback rostered behind Cousins. The 31-year-old should open the season as the organization’s second-stringer.
“I don’t want to limit him to what he can be, but he has shown that he’s been an elite backup in this league,” new head coach Raheem Morris said of Heinicke. “When you’re talking about an elite backup, a guy that comes in the game and can win you a game until your starter gets back and, boom, not miss a beat, right? Not need the reps that’s required to go out there and play and execute. He’s shown all those things, and the interest is always there.”