The Cleveland Browns entered this off-season without any quarterbacks. That is, until GM Andrew Berry shipped off Dorian Thompson-Robinson to the Philadelphia Eagles for former first-round draft pick Kenny Pickett.
But the addition of Pickett was seen as filling the backup signal caller role, despite praise coming out of Philadelphia. Pickett has played in 30 NFL games with 25 starts but is now on his third NFL club. It is assumed that Berry will draft a young QB in the upcoming NFL draft.
All that was needed was a starter.
One by one, all of the free-agent veteran quarterbacks were signed to new teams. After Russell Wilson inked a deal with the New York Football Giants, only the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Browns were without a viable starting option. Then, Berry re-signed Joe Flacco.
Flacco went 4-1 with Cleveland during the 2023 season and was named the NFL Comeback Player of the Year despite playing just five contests. After that season, many Browns fans wanted to see him continue on with the franchise, but with Deshaun Watson the starter along with his huge contract, Flacco wanted a chance to compete to be somebody’s starting quarterback and then signed a deal with the Indianapolis Colts. There, he went 2-4 as the starter and filled in for an injured Anthony Richardson.
Now that he is with Cleveland once again, his contract is a one-year deal worth $4 million with $3 million guaranteed. But his contract has some additions attached.
Flacco can make up to $9 million more. These conditions for additional payments involve:
- On-field performance
- Team success
- Regular season wins
- Winning the starting job
- Playing time percentage
- Winning the division
- Making the post-season
- Winning playoff games
- Winning the Super Bowl
During his time with the Browns, he was paid $2.5 million through a series of bonuses that had triggers for performance, victories, and a playoff berth.
Flacco is a veteran quarterback, and Cleveland had plenty of success during his stint with the club. The offense began to move and score lots of points, whereas under Watson, none of that happened. In his six games, including the playoff loss, Flacco eclipsed the 300-yard passing mark, whereas Watson struggled to obtain 200 yards. The Browns also scored over 30 points in three games. However, he did toss two pick-sixes in the playoff defeat.
It would make sense for Flacco to be penciled in as the starter, but that is not a given. Pickett has been told that the job is up for grabs and he has every opportunity to win it. The franchise has publicly stated that they believe in Pickett and his abilities.
Flacco’s bonuses depend upon his winning the starting position. This becomes the first domino to fall if he wants to sniff any bonus opportunities.
This is not to say that the rookie the team drafts won’t be considered for the starting gig, but he would have to perform at an elite level right off in training camp. It has, and it does, happen. In 2012, the Seattle Seahawks signed that year’s premium free agent QB Matt Flynn to a huge contract for $20.5 million to become their starter. Seattle drafted Russell Wilson in the third round that year, and he competed and won the starting job over Flynn. When Wilson was named the starter, it made Flynn and his contract expendable.
Before Flacco signed with the Browns in 2023, he had started only 17 games in four seasons combined.
Does the signing of Flacco move the needle? Maybe. He did not set the league on fire with the Colts as he tossed 12 touchdowns against seven interceptions. He did complete 65.3% of his passes but had a mere nine rushes for 26 yards. So, he remains a pocket passer which is what head coach Kevin Stefanski prefers.
One aspect of Flacco that is exceptional is his ability to maneuver the pocket slightly then continue to look downfield and find a receiver.
Maybe Flacco can replicate the success he had with Cleveland in 2023. The offense was alive with him under center, and they did score quite a bit and often. At least they were exciting to watch. Flacco and TE David Njoku seemed to find a nice groove during this time frame, as well as receivers Amari Cooper and Ced Tillman.
If that was just lightning in a bottle, then so be it. Perhaps those sparks can be found and returned to the field this year.
It did not happen in Indy, though. The management of the Colts didn’t fight to keep Flacco. And it took quite a while in free agency for any club to sign him to a new deal, even though he was out there all that time. So, there’s that.
We will see if Kenny Pickett is better than a 40-year-old Joe Flacco.
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