Joe Flacco will have a chance to start in a playoff game for the first time since a Ravens-Patriots divisional-round matchup nine years ago. This improbable development already had the 38-year-old quarterback planning to suit up in 2024; this stunning re-emergence also looks to be pointing the QB toward an age-40 season.
Considering Flacco was out of football from the time his most recent Jets contract expired in March until a Browns search — in the wake of Deshaun Watson‘s season-ending injury — led to a free agency addition, it is borderline shocking the former Ravens mainstay will be suiting up at all in a playoff game. But he now has designs on playing through the 2025 season, SI.com’s Albert Breer notes.
It should be considered a bit early to guarantee Flacco — a backup from 2020-22 after suffering injuries in 2018 and ’19 — can be a viable option through an age-40 season. Several passers have reached that point throughout NFL history. Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Brett Favre and Vinny Testaverde operated as regular starters past 40 this century, while Josh McCown, Matt Hasselbeck, Mark Brunell, Brad Johnson, Doug Flutie and Warren Moon played into their 40s since 2000. Aaron Rodgers turned 40 last month but saw his comeback from Achilles surgery fall short; the Jets QB is signed through 2024 and joins Flacco in aiming to play through 2025.
Going on a 4-1 march with Flacco as their starter, the Browns are interested in having Flacco back for his age-39 season. With Watson coming back, that would be an interesting dynamic. While Flacco has impressed as a fill-in starter, teams have viewed him as a backup since a neck injury ended his Broncos season in 2019. Flacco signed to back up Sam Darnold in 2020 and agreed to be the Eagles’ QB2 behind Jalen Hurts in 2021, being traded back to the Jets to play behind Zach Wilson.
No one was especially interested in Flacco this year, but he has probably changed that conversation for 2024. Injuries to starters across the league could result in clubs placing a higher priority on backups come March, and Flacco will join the likes of Darnold, Ryan Tannehill, Gardner Minshew, Jacoby Brissett, Tyrod Taylor and Marcus Mariota among possible bridge or QB2 options who could fare decently in free agency. Breer estimates Flacco could command around $10MM per year, particularly if a team authorizes a two-year contract. He played for $1.5MM in 2020 and $3.5MM in each of the past two years.
If Flacco’s price creeps toward the eight-figure-AAV range, it is conceivable the Browns would pass due to the Watson commitment. Flacco did decline offers to join other teams’ 53-man rosters while on Cleveland’s practice squad, prioritizing fit at this stage of his career. It will be interesting to see how the 16th-year veteran’s market looks come March; his postseason start will help determine what kind of offers come in for a player essentially discarded last year.
2/$60mil sign this man up
I’m pleased to see the much maligned Flacco enjoying a late career resurgence with Cleveland but I don’t think it’s realistic to think this fairy tale will last another 2 seasons.
Jets logic: ‘Let’s stick with a bad attitude, & bust QB2 because we drafted him and can’t ‘move on’ to early otherwise we’ll look like we missed on the pick.’.
In the wise words of LeBron, “I think I got 2 more for y’all”
League will tell u like a sledgehammer to a fly when u R goin to retire, not really a pick n choose thing except for very few.
Give Joe a solid o-line and capable receivers with his experience and arm there aren’t more than 20 better QBS in the league. He saved Browns season and is good insurance if the creep Watson has another down year in 24.
Come to Atlanta lol
The Browns are a legit threat.
That roster is great.
But, as much as I want to root for the Flacco redemption story, Ill forever root against this embarrassment of a franchise.