Joe Flacco 'Almost Definitely' Leaving Browns; Ravens Reunion?
Joe Flacco's not so down with being a Brown.
The Baltimore Ravens franchise legend enjoyed a career reboot in the latter stages of this past NFL season with a rival, as Flacco's five-game commandeering of the Cleveland Browns' starting quarterback duties were enough to earn him (controversial) Comeback Player of the Year honors.
But, according to Zac Jackson of The Athletic, don't expect that Cinderella story with a twist to get a sequel.
"The Browns are bringing back much of their roster and almost all of their top players," Jackson wrote. "Flacco is almost definitely moving on as Deshaun Watson is returning."
Evan Habeeb, USA TODAY SPORTS
It'd be no surprise to see Flacco, 39, press forward for a 17th NFL season. Though well beyond twilight by NFL passing standards, Flacco has often been reluctant to talk about retirement and the epidemic of injuries to star quarterbacks will likely send some squads into Flacco's inbox.
It's only natural to ask the question: should one of those teams be the Ravens?
In short, it's probably best if Baltimore avoids such a route. Bringing Flacco back would be an act done purely out of nostalgia, a perhaps misguided attempt to allow him to end his career where it began. Sure, maybe Lamar Jackson could benefit from the cliche of supposedly sponging Flacco's championship expertise, but that trope has been well played out in this and age.
Besides, for all its flaws, Baltimore carries one of the more enviable passing Plan B's in the whole NFL: Tyler Huntley has been serviceable enough to warrant years of renewed loyalty, as he has been a sideline staple in Charm City since 2020. Josh Johnson, one of few active passers capable of holding a mere challenge to Flacco's years of service, also waits in the wings (pun intended) while the prescience of Malik Cunningham, a similarly skilled Jackson-style project and a fellow Louisville alum, should be an intriguing summer subplot.
Even if Flacco isn't destined for a charmed career conclusion, several other teams would be no doubt happy to cut him a check: only nine quarterbacks started all 17 games for their respective teams and some teams saw their seasons derailed entirely thanks to the loss of their primary passers (i.e. Aaron Rodgers in New York).
