ATLANTA -- Taylor Heinicke remains with the Atlanta Falcons, but in doing so, he's taking a decrease in pay.
According to Roster Management System, Heinicke took a pay cut recently from an expected $5 million base salary in 2024 to $1.21 million. His $1.32 million roster bonus, which was due just after the league year began last month, was instead classified as a signing bonus.
His $40,000 per game active roster bonus was also removed from his contract.
The reduction in the deal lowers Heinicke's cap number from $8.96 million to $4.53 million -- including a cash value of $2.53 million. If the Falcons were to release him at this point, he would cost $3.32 million in dead money with only a cap savings of $1.21 million.
It's one of a flurry of moves Atlanta made at quarterback in the last month, signing Kirk Cousins to a four-year contract worth up to $180 million at the start of free agency and trading last year's primary starter, Desmond Ridder, to the Arizona Cardinals for receiver Rondale Moore.
The 31-year-old Heinicke completed 54.4% of his passes last year for 890 yards, five touchdowns and four interceptions in five games -- four of them starts after he replaced Ridder. In his career between the Houston Texans, Carolina Panthers, Washington Commanders and Atlanta, Heinicke completed 62.5% of his passes for 6,635 yards, 39 touchdowns and 28 interceptions.
And now, he'll be in a position to compete to back up Cousins. Falcons coach Raheem Morris said the Falcons will add another quarterback -- potentially through the draft -- to keep the room competitive.
But there was a level of importance in keeping Heinicke, too.
"I don't want to limit him to what he can be, but he has shown that he's been an elite backup in this league," Morris said. "When you're talking about an elite backup, a guy that comes in the game and can win you a game until your starter gets back and, boom, not miss a beat, right?
"Not need the reps that's required to go out there and play and execute. He's shown all those things and the interest is always there."
