The Bengals went from throwing support behind Jake Browning to frantically seeking an outside upgrade. Joe Flacco became that option, being sent across Ohio early this week in a Day 3 pick-swap exchange.
Prior to landing on Flacco — a development that surprised the Browns — the Bengals looked into many reserve QBs around the league and one who recently wrapped his NFL career. In addition to calling the Eagles on Sam Howell and the Seahawks on Drew Lock, the Bengals contacted the Texans on Davis Mills, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport.
[RELATED: Flacco Hail Mary Comes At Key Point On Bengals’ Timeline]
A long-hesitant franchise regarding the acquisition of players via in-season trades, the Bengals also made a call on Derek Carr. Rapoport indicates the recently retired passer became part of Cincinnati’s search. Had this progressed, the team would have needed to make a deal with the Saints for Carr’s rights. Like they did with Sean Payton when he stepped away in 2022, the Saints hold Carr’s rights after his mid-offseason retirement.
Carr did not enter the offseason assured of retaining his starting job. Kellen Moore took over in New Orleans, leading to rumors about a QB change — even in the event Carr kept playing. Two years remained on his Saints contract. Carr was not open to a pay cut on the four-year, $150MM deal and remained in the Saints’ plans for several weeks between Moore’s arrival and the post-draft retirement decision. As of September, Carr has not slammed the door on returning. But with the Saints needing compensation, that introduced a wrinkle they may have kept the 11-year veteran in retirement.
This certainly would have presented an interesting opportunity for Carr, as the Bengals paid up to retain their high-end Ja’Marr Chase–Tee Higgins duo this offseason. Carr struggled to stay healthy in New Orleans, running into a few injuries. Most notably, a shoulder malady sustained in 2023 plagued him and ultimately led the ex-Raider to retirement. Should health circumstances improve, that could conceivably change the equation. Carr did gauge the trade market this offseason. But Carr is 34, limiting his window. During the summer, a report also indicated the former playoff starter is not likely to return to the league.
The Bengals made calls to teams with three quarterbacks and those with viable practice squad options, Rapoport adds. Mills obviously remains in the Texans‘ plans, having signed a one-year extension that moves his contract through 2026 in September. The Texans also rebuffed trade inquiries on Mills in 2023, keeping he and Case Keenum behind C.J. Stroud that season. A 2021 third-round pick, Mills has played his entire career in Houston. The team replaced him as their primary starter via the Stroud selection but still values him in the QB2 post.
Cincinnati did not inquire about Giants veterans, Kirk Cousins or Ryan Tannehill. In not making Tannehill part of their QB search, the Bengals wanted a player who had been active recently, Rapoport adds. Tannehill has not played since the 2023 season, when the Titans benched him for second-round rookie Will Levis. Tannehill had been connected to the Vikings early this offseason and later came up for the Raiders following Aidan O’Connell‘s injury, but the 37-year-old passer remains out of football.
Flacco, 40, will make a start despite being acquired Tuesday afternoon. The Bengals sent Flacco cutups on his flight from Cleveland, per Rapoport, as he was getting up to speed in Zac Taylor‘s offense by Tuesday night. With the Browns giving Flacco two weeks to prepare before his first start with the team in 2023, today’s shorter-notice Packers matchup presents a daunting assignment. For the foreseeable future, however, the Bengals will have Flacco at the controls.
If the Bungals =)
1. Can protect Flacco
2. Have a running game
3. They ha e excellent receivers
They should be okay…this is going to be an interesting experience
I think the Bengals desperation was reaching the point where they were about to start looking for a live arm on the Cincinnati Reds 🙂
Given that the Bengals OL is far worse then Cleveland’s I highly doubt 40Yr old Flacco will have much time to throw and he won’t be scrambling much….
Cleveland is a worse team all around anyway.
Not really
Cleveland has a significantly better D, better OL, better TEs, looking like equal RBs, and significantly worse WRs. This reaffirms exactly how valuable Burrow is to the Bengals. Put him on the Browns and they’re a playoff team.
I’m not sure with Stefanski
But you’re sure with Zac Taylor?? I’m not sure Taylor isn’t a downgrade from Stefanski. What does he do well besides call plays that allow Burrow to get the ball to a superstar WR?
The Browns have 1 win this year and they have the 2nd best defense
They haven’t scored more than 17 points in 13 games. Stefanski has made every quarterback worse or at least, not made them better. I guarantee that Burrow would not put up the numbers with Cleveland as he does with Cincinnati. That was my post
He has? 40 year old Flacco, who has looked horrendous on both teams and rookie Gabriel who has made two starts? I beg to differ big time here. I think you’re vastly underestimating how many wins Burrow is worth. I mean, we see it already. They’re 0-4 with a -85 point differential without him, and it should be much worse but Green Bay decided to play conservative this weekend and let Flacco go underneath all day since they knew it had zero chance of beating them.
I think you’re giving Taylor too much credit and Burrow not enough credit. The Bengals might not win a game without Burrow.
Burrow was 5-5 in 23 and Browning was 5-4. Burrow is a very good quarterback but he’s basically a few games over 500
Browning had a very good 2023, I agree. He has since regressed–can’t just ignore 2025. Burrow has experienced the opposite. He’s better now than 2023 with last year being his best season.
My point in other words: if you trade a healthy Burrow for Gabriel, who is the better team? I think it’s the Browns. I don’t see the Bengals as much different than they are now, which is winless without Burrow. I think a healthy Burrow has the Browns better than 1-5 for sure.
Of course Burrow would have the Browns at more than 1 win but I think he’d put up better in Cincinnati than Cleveland
I wouldn’t be surprised considering the weapons he has.
And coach
I still don’t necessarily agree with that. They let good coordinators go for ones who suck, and Taylor doesn’t give them any oomph as a playcaller outside of last night. Really, that was Chase and Higgins performing to their capabilities.
So you blame the play caller when the offense loses their starting quarterback and when they get a quarterback who was either throwing dimes or hitting wide open receivers and you don’t want to credit the quarterback or play caller? Chase is a very good receiver but the ball was put on the money
Of those options, I would have picked Flacco also. The only possibly available option better in my opinion would be Jameis Winston because of his strong arm and he’s younger. I honestly think Flacco can win some games for us and seeing as how the division is a disaster right now, I think they can maybe sneak into the playoffs and by that time our you g defense will be better and our young guards will be well acclimated and if Burrow doesn’t have any rust, the playoffs could be very interesting. I know, a lot has to fall into place, but it could happen.
Derek Carr announced his retirement before season right? What makes the bengals think he’d consider coming out retirement to play for them?
Geno Smith.