Who Should I Start? Taylor Heinicke or Shedeur Sanders

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, May 16, 12:15 PM

Former Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders went from being a projected first-round pick in this year's NFL draft to not being taken until No. 144 overall in the fifth round by the Cleveland Browns. The Browns passed on Sanders six times before taking him with their seventh pick. However, head coach Kevin Stefanski is confident Sanders can be a successful NFL QB. "We're getting a guy that really is not so concerned about where he landed in this draft, but he is willing to put in the work and that's what we're going to do," Stefanski said. The 23-year-old has a long ways to go to work his way up a QB depth chart in Cleveland that includes Joe Flacco, Deshaun Watson (Achilles), Kenny Pickett and fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel. He's accurate but has average arm strength, and his athleticism doesn't jump off the page. NFL teams believe he's a backup, at best. Time will tell if Sanders can prove them wrong.