Who Should I Start? Taylor Heinicke or Bailey Zappe

Thursday, March 13, 9:30 PM

The Los Angeles Chargers and backup quarterback Taylor Heinicke agreed to a one-year contract extension worth up to $6.2 million on Thursday, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. Heinicke will return to L.A. for a second season to back up starter Justin Herbert. In his first year with the Chargers in 2024, Heinicke only saw action in four games (no starts) and went only 3-for-5 for 28 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions. The 31-year-old former undrafted free agent out of Old Dominion has already played for five different NFL teams in his seven years in the league. His best year came in 2021 with the Washington Commanders, when he played in 16 games (15 starts) and threw for 3,419 yards, 20 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. Heinicke has started 29 games in his seven seasons, but he's unlikely to see much work again in 2025 behind Herbert, who is one of the toughest QBs in football.

Friday, March 14, 1:08 PM

A day after adding quarterback Gardner Minshew II to the quarterback room, the Kansas City Chiefs re-signed QB Bailey Zappe to an undisclosed one-year deal on Friday, a source told NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. Zappe began last season with the Kansas City Chiefs but eventually joined the Cleveland Browns and started the Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival Baltimore Ravens, going 16-for-31 for 170 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. The 25-year-old former fourth-round pick (137th overall) by the New England Patriots in 2022 out of Western Kentucky will open the 2025 season as Kansas City's third-stringer behind Mahomes and Minshew. In his three years in the NFL, he has completed 62.1% of his 335 pass attempts for 2,223 yards, 12 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.