While the ink still isn’t dry on Joe Flacco‘s contract with the Browns, there’s already speculation that the veteran may not make it to the regular season with his new squad. According to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, Joe Flacco is likely the odd man out in the Browns quarterbacks room.
The team’s positional depth has obviously changed a bit since Flacco inked a deal with Cleveland in early April. The Browns added a pair of big-name rookies via the draft, and it sounds like the team is committed to giving roster spots to both third-round pick Dillon Gabriel and surprising fifth-round pick Shedeur Sanders.
As the Browns navigated Deshaun Watson‘s injury and tenuous standing on their squad, the team went out and made a trade for Kenny Pickett earlier this offseason. Cabot believes the former first-round pick is in prime position to retain his roster spot, and that would leave Flacco on the outside looking in.
The team would surely only commit three roster spots to the quarterback position, but Cabot says the team could hang on to four QBs for the first iteration of their 53-man roster. The team did something similar last year, when they kept Tyler Huntley with the hopes of a trade popping up. A deal never came to fruition, and the organization moved on from Huntley before Week 1.
It’s hard to envision a long line of suitors for Flacco. That has nothing to do with his quality of play—even during his age-39 season, Flacco won a pair of games while tossing 12 touchdowns vs. seven interceptions. Rather, teams will likely be cognizant of Flacco’s spot on Cleveland’s roster, and they may just wait out an inevitable release if they truly have interest in the veteran.
On the flip side, Flacco could simply play himself into a role, potentially leading to a tricky situation for the Browns. The most likely path would see them move on from Pickett, but if both vets are truly deserving of a spot, then it wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibility for them to ditch a draft pick or try to sneak a rookie onto their practice squad.
Meanwhile, we’ve finally gotten some details on Flacco’s contract (via OverTheCap.com). His one-year, $4MM pact includes $3MM in guaranteed money, although a chunk of that total is tied to roster bonuses that could be avoided. Flacco is also attached to a $2.85MM cap hit, and the Browns would be left with half of that on the books if they outright released the quarterback.
Did him dirty
From a distance it looks to me as though Pickett will be the idd man out. Flacco and the receiving crew worked very well together in ’23, and I would expect those vibes to return this year. Maybe Sanders turns out to be more of a Baker Mayfield than a Johnny Manziel, but I think Gabriel will be the guy going forward. Then again, what do I know?
Gabriel appears way more polished than Sanders, and was more successful in college. I think it will be Flacco, Gabriel, and Sanders, but I’m not sold on Sanders like many others are.
Seems right to me, too. Pickett doesn’t really offer veteran starting experience, so if you’re looking for a mentor, why would keep him over Flacco (who also, might I add, had possibly the best postseason of all time and won a Superbowl due to it)? What does Pickett bring over Flacco? Youth? The Browns have two high profile rookie quarterbacks-youth shouldn’t be a concern.
I’ll never say never, but cutting Flacco for Pickett in this specific scenario just doesn’t make sense to me.
It’s the Browns – logic has no place here
They didn’t trade for Pickett to cut him. Flacco was signed because he was affordable and knew Stefanski’s system. Stefanski really likes Pickett and Gabriel and they will have the upper hand over 40 yr old Flacco. Neither of those guys turn the ball over, where Flacco does. Only way Flacco makes this team is if neither rookie QB appears ready to be Pickett’s backup….
Imagine assembling the worst QB room in the league and then deciding the guy you should get rid of is the best one.
Elite tanking or just the Browns existing?
To be this bad for this long is an accomplishment. To continue to one-up themselves is downright historic. Best part is we know they’re not done. God bless em.
Funniest QB room in the leauge. Dillon Gabriel was the complete waste of a pick
Or Sanders, I suppose. Gabriel, in his defense, seemed more like the football personnel’s pick in comparison, but that is of course speculative.
I beg to differ. He is a Stefanski pick because he can run his style of offense. Sanders is the QB that has way more to prove. Pickett will start and Gabriel will be his backup…Sanders is purely a developmental project until he proves he’s not….
Imagine signing here in the future…so inept. Who would want to?
Joe has been around long enough to know how to survive in the NFL. The Browns QB room isn’t the only one that could use a wily veteran.
As a Browns fan I can tell you with certainty Stefanski loves Pickett and Gabriel, why? They don’t turn the ball over. Flacco throws too many picks and he’s 40.Love the guy but he was only signed as insurance behind Pickett. Depending on how camp goes for Pickett and Gabriel, Flacco is more likely to be cut before those guys. If Sanders shows anything in camp, Flacco most definitely is gone….
Pickett and Who ? Over steady Joe tells me the browns are looking for a top 2 pick in 2026,2027 and 2028.
@traci. It’s possible they can trade flacco for a 7th round pick to a team that needs a backup. Or even trade flacco for a player that’s not going to make roster cuts.
Just my opinion on their room and what they should do:
1. Joe Flacco-Played great in 2023 and good in 2024. Players and fans love him. Start him for the year. See what happens. If it doesn’t work, bench him and try and trade him.
2. Kenny Pickett-It’s been 3 years and we really haven’t seen anything substantial. If he has a good Pre-Season, try and trade him. If not just release. Sanders and Gabriel have a higher ceiling.
3/4. Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders-Let both battle for the back-up QB postion. Whoever wins it in camp wins it and is next in-line to start. Keep the other as your 3rd string.
5. Deshaun Watson-He looked done before he hurt himself last year. Has since torn it again. Just an awful trade. Worst in sports history in my opinion. Just have to forget about him.
Sounds like a poll is in order
As an Eagles fan, I didn’t think much of what I saw from Pickett last year. Why the Browns traded anything for him is remarkable, but then to add a better veteran and two rookies on top? I think Pickett goes, and Flacco is kept to start and to mentor the other two.
I know Pickett thinks he is improved, and I’d love to see a comeback story from him, I’ve just seen way too many unimpressive games from him. Pittsburgh dumped him off for a reason, & I just can’t see him outperforming Flacco in camp. I could see him getting outright waived when they cut down to 53 players. He might have to settle for a practice squad gig to start the year.