The Cleveland Browns are reconciling their marriage. They vaulted to the playoffs in 2023 thanks to a comeback season from veteran signal caller Joe Flacco. Two years later, they are going to try their best to duplicate that magic.
Flacco, 40 years-of-age, and in his 18th year in the NFL out of Delaware, reportedly agreed to a one-year, $4 million deal to return to the Browns for the 2025 NFL season, according to ESPN’s senior NFL insider Adam Schefter. The contract can reportedly reach up to $13 million based on incentives, according to Dianna Russini of The Athletic.
The Super Bowl champion and veteran was a fan favorite in 2023, when he led the team to the playoffs in the second half of the season. With the Browns sitting at 7-4, Flacco took over the duties under center and went 4-1 in five starts, clinching a playoff berth. To that point, the team had not gotten adequate quarterback play from Deshaun Watson, who had just 7 touchdowns and 4 interceptions in six games.
A Watson injury opened the door for Flacco to move into the starting role. He performed admirably, throwing 13 touchdowns against 8 interceptions. That momentum flamed out and did not continue in the postseason, however, as the team was vanquished and eliminated by Watson’s former team, the Houston Texans in the wild-card round.
The performance was a career resurgence for Flacco, who wound up winning the AP Comeback Player of the Year award for his late-season heroics. Prior to excelling with the Browns, Flacco had started just 17 games over the previous four seasons combined. He posted decent numbers over that period, throwing 20 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, but his days as a full-time starting quarterback appeared to be hanging on by a thread, if not over entirely.
While Flacco’s stretch with the Browns did not earn him a starting gig in 2024, he still managed to start six games with the Indianapolis Colts last season because of the ineffective play by Anthony Richardson. He threw for 12 touchdowns and 7 interceptions in those contests.
Flacco has an opportunity to see significant playing time with the Browns in 2025. While Watson is still listed at the top of the team’s depth chart, he underwent Achilles surgery in January and could miss the entire 2025 NFL season while recovering from that injury.
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The team traded for former first-round pick Kenny Pickett in March, giving them a younger option on the depth chart. If that depth chart remains unchanged, Flacco and Pickett could battle it out for the starting job in training camp.
There is also a possibility another young quarterback gets added to that mix. The Browns hold the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft and could look to select Shedeur Sanders from Colorado if the Tennessee Titans go with quarterback Cam Ward out of Miami at No. 1 overall.
Even if the team passes on a quarterback in the first round, they could bring in a talented passer on the second day of the draft. Flacco could provide stability and mentorship at the position, but he is not a long-term option. Watson has not been played well when healthy and is only under contract through the 2026 NFL season.
That leaves the Browns with a long-term need at the position. And while Flacco was a great story for them in 2023, it is probably not a good idea to lean on a 40-year-old quarterback beyond the 2025 season.
