The Browns putting an ageing quarterback behind an injury-riddled offensive line definitely injects danger into their equation, however the defense-powered staff has received two of its three video games with Joe Flacco on the helm. A string of developments have commenced throughout this span.
After taking part in his first two Browns video games as a follow squad elevation, Flacco signed an incentive-laden deal to be part of the staff’s 53-man roster. He rebuffed gives to signal with different groups whereas on Cleveland’s P-squad and, regardless of not touchdown a 2023 gig till November, is excited about taking part in a seventeenth NFL season in 2024. The Browns could give the previous Ravens mainstay that chance.
The staff stays tied to Deshaun Watson as its starter, however Outkick.com’s Armando Salguero notes it has held inner discussions on a deal that might preserve Flacco in Cleveland for the ’24 season. Flacco, who will flip 39 subsequent month, has signed a number of contracts to be a backup in the course of the 2020s. Although Watson’s totally assured deal all however ensures he might be Cleveland’s Week 1 starter subsequent yr, it could appear doubtless Flacco could be amenable — given his feedback about his present scenario to date — to coming again as a backup.
While Flacco has not been flawless since coming again, he has delivered stunning work to preserve the Browns in place because the AFC’s high wild-card staff. The 9-5 squad has benefited tremendously from the current Jets backup, who at factors resided as Gang Green’s third-stringer final season. Flacco has thrown seven landing passes and amassed 939 passing yards (7.1 per try) with the Browns. He has solely accomplished 57.9% of his passes, throwing 5 interceptions. But he confirmed a transparent enchancment on what the Browns possessed past Watson this season, upgrading on P.J. Walker and Dorian Thompson-Robinson — to the purpose Kevin Stefanski named the veteran his rest-of-season starter after his second begin.
Thompson-Robinson’s rookie contract runs by 2026, however a Flacco re-signing would successfully transfer the fifth-round rookie to the developmental observe. Thompson-Robinson has struggled this season, regardless of being given the QB2 function following the Browns’ Josh Dobbs commerce in August. Watson’s troublesome throwing shoulder could effectively immediate Cleveland to be higher ready when it comes to depth subsequent season.
Another Watson restructure could effectively occur, because the staff’s 2023 transforming has the starter’s 2024 cap quantity set to skyrocket to a record-shattering $63.97M quantity. Despite early success, Flacco could be unlikely to command greater than midlevel backup cash in 2024. He would seemingly nonetheless match within the Browns’ plans if connected to a full-season contract. Many youthful QB2 choices might be accessible in March, however the early returns of Flacco’s slot in Stefanski’s offense have already led to the staff contemplating a multiyear partnership.
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