Taylor Heinicke of the Washington Football Team signed a two-year extension with the team. This puts to an end to all the speculations surrounding his future. Heinicke was expected to enter free agency this off-season. However, he chose to re-sign with Washington after a promising post-season in the NFL.
Heinicke re-signing with Washington secures their quarterback position for the foreseeable future. Heinicke had a solid post-season with Washington. He averaged 59% passing completion in Washington’s only playoff game against eventual champions Tampa Bay Buccaneers. While Washington lost the game, Heinicke established himself as a reliable option for the team.
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Heinicke can provide a solid back-up for starting quarterback Alex Smith. Smith made his return from a long period of time away from the NFL due to a serious injury. But his return showed that he can still play at a high level as the starting quarterback for an NFL franchise. Due to his history with injuries, Washington must have felt they needed adequate back-up for him.
Taylor Heinicke ready to prove himself
That is where the signing of Heinicke comes into play. He will provide the cover for Alex Smith when needed. Despite playing very few minutes last year, Heinicke proved that he can be counted on to fill in and play whatever role asked of him by the franchise. Additionally, Heinicke’s deal is economical and allows the team to pull of trades and free-agent signings in the off-season to bolster the team.
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For Heinicke, this is a great deal for him. He gets a great pay-day, and can further build up his value by getting some more game time and impressing NFL franchises with solid performances. He is only signing an $8.75 million contract, which means that after two years, his performances could drive up his value way more and he can cash in on a solid payday.
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READ MORE: Buccaneers’ Head Coach Bruce Arians Picks Washington’s Alex Smith to Win Comeback Player of the Year
Can Heinicke help the Washington Football Team achieve further success in the playoffs next season? He can provide excellent cover for Smith, and get some solid playing time through the regular season. If he can replicate his performance from the few minutes he got last year, Washington will be happy with the resigning.