QBs That NFL Teams Must Pursue in Trades Right Now
Nothing is more important for an NFL roster than finding a long-term solution at quarterback. Not terribly far down the list is building depth at the critical position.
As training camp opens and the 2024 preseason nears, all 32 teams have a relative amount of clarity for the starting job. There are franchise players, undisputed QB1s and exciting newcomers, and the actual competitions—such as the Las Vegas Raiders—have a known battle.
That, my friends, is the long version of saying the following list of trade targets is focused on improving depth.
While the choices are subjective, they're a product of a player's contract and past performance or perceived upside.
Taylor Heinicke, Atlanta Falcons
1 of 5
I feel bad for Taylor Heinicke, you know?
After taking a paycut to stick with the Atlanta Falcons, he watched the team draft Michael Penix Jr. in the first round. He's gone from Atlanta's starter to the potential third-stringer in a matter of months.
Heinicke himself isn't blind to this reality.
"Yeah, I kind of see the writing on the wall," he said, per D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "It's nothing that I haven't been through before. So, I accept my role in any case. My role, for me, and what I think is to help Kirk any way that I can. ... Same thing with Mike."
Look, the 31-year-old Heinicke is maxed out as a stop-gap starter or experienced backup. For now, the Falcons would benefit from having him around as Penix adapts to the NFL game.
But an offense like the Indianapolis Colts certainly has space for an upgrade in the second-string role.
Malik Willis, Tennessee Titans
2 of 5
As a down-roster alternative to Ryan Tannehill, Malik Willis made a ton of sense with the Tennessee Titans. However, the tenor of that belief changed when the Titans drafted Will Levis in 2023.
Willis, as a result, has steadily become an afterthought—and potential cut candidate in Tennessee.
In his case, there's simply not a likely path to playing time. While the Titans understandably are committed to seeing what Levis can become, they signed Mason Rudolph in free agency. That's not exactly an encouraging sign for Willis securing a backup role, either.
Willis could provide a different kind of archetype for a minimally mobile QB room, such as the Cincinnati Bengals.
Tyler Huntley, Cleveland Browns
3 of 5
I mean, the Cleveland Browns can't hoard all the quarterbacks.
For better or worse, Deshaun Watson and his fully guaranteed contract will not be going anywhere. Cleveland added Jameis Winston as a free agent, and he's a competent backup. He's safe, too.
The question becomes how Cleveland will handle the looming decision of Dorian Thompson-Robinson or Tyler Huntley.
Since no franchise will carry four QBs in the regular season, the Browns need to cut or trade one of them. Given that DTR started three games in his rookie year, Cleveland would probably prefer to keep him around as a developmental hope behind Watson and Winston.
Huntley, meanwhile, was perfectly adequate as Lamar Jackson's backup with the Baltimore Ravens recently.
I am not rooting for a significant injury to happen. I am saying, nonetheless, that Huntley should be a prime target if one occurs somewhere during training camp. And, like in 2023 with Josh Dobbs, the Browns might even get a late-round draft pick out of a trade.
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Bailey Zappe, New England Patriots
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Following two years of chaos with the New England Patriots, Bailey Zappe needs a change of scenery.
Now, I'd entertain the notion that a coaching change has inherently provided one in Foxboro. Fair enough. But that transition also led to New England signing old friend Jacoby Brissett and selecting Drake Maye with the third overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft.
In short: The Pats didn't take Maye to sit him forever.
Brissett may open the campaign as the starter, but Maye—whether this season or next—will be the next man up. That leaves Zappe in a third-string position with little opportunity to rise the depth chart.
Zappe's ideal spot would be a place he can compete to supplant a veteran QB2; the Carolina Panthers with Andy Dalton come to mind.
Jaren Hall, Minnesota Vikings
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Similar to Zappe's outlook in New England, Jaren Hall is facing a rough situation on the Minnesota Vikings' depth chart.
The team picked up Sam Darnold on a one-year contract in free agency, then drafted JJ McCarthy in the opening round. Neither of them is leaving the Vikings in 2024.
Unless the Vikings shockingly decide to keep four QBs on the roster, one of Jaren Hall or Nick Mullens must go. Given that Hall is younger and cheaper, it's logical to say Minnesota will retain him. The value coaches place on system knowledge can never be discounted, though, so Mullens might end up being the Vikings' pick anyway.
Hall is a perfect candidate to develop into an infuriating-to-everyone-else solid reserve on a quality team. Sit as a third-stringer in 2024, and kick out a current backup next offseason.
This sounds like a job for Andy Reid and the Kansas City Chiefs—or the Raiders, even as that's not as glamorous.
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