Ex-Commanders QB Taylor Heinicke agrees to deal with Falcons: reports

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The Atlanta Falcons are set to sign veteran quarterback Taylor Heinicke to a two-year contract, the NFL Network reported on Tuesday.

The deal is worth up to $20 million, according to reports. The former Washington Commanders quarterback is expected to back up Desmond Ridder, who started four games during his rookie campaign last season.

Heinicke is a Georgia native and played high school football at Collins Hill High School in suburban Atlanta.

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Taylor Heinicke #4 of the Washington Commanders celebrates a touchdown scored by Brian Robinson Jr. #8 against the Philadelphia Eagles during the second quarter in the game at Lincoln Financial Field on November 14, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

Former first-round draft pick Marcus Mariota started for the first 13 games of the 2022 season for Atlanta. After he was benched in favor of Ridder for the final 4 games of the year, Mariota decided to step away from the team and had a knee procedure.

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The Falcons opted to sign Mariota just hours after agreeing to trade quarterback Matt Ryan to Indianapolis. Ryan, who had spent his entire carer in Atlanta up to that point, requested a trade after the team's failed public pursuit of Deshaun Watson.

They hold the eighth overall pick in this year's NFL Draft and could draft a rookie quarterback to compete with Ridder and Heinicke.

Taylor Heinicke #4 of the Washington Commanders looks to pass the ball against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on November 14,