The last time quarterback Joe Flacco was in Cleveland, he turned a five-game stint into the NFL Comeback Player of the Year. The Browns could use his help again.
They agreed to terms with Flacco on Friday morning, the team announced. The deal is reportedly for one year and worth up to $13 million if Flacco earns all of the incentives written into the contract.
He previously played for the Browns during the 2023-24 season, helping to lead them to 11 wins and a berth in the playoffs.
Flacco was first signed by the Browns after quarterback Deshaun Watson suffered a season-ending shoulder injury against the Baltimore Ravens in mid-November 2023. His first start with the team came in a 36-19 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Dec. 3. He would win his next four games as a starter, including a Thursday night affair against the New York Jets in Week 17 to clinch a spot in the postseason.
In Flacco’s five regular season games with the Browns, he threw for 1,616 yards, 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski is now reunited with a strong veteran presence that has succeeded in his system. Flacco joins newly acquired Kenny Pickett, who was acquired from the Philadelphia Eagles earlier this year, to compete for the starting nod when the season arrives. Watson is still on the roster but has torn his Achilles tendon twice in the previous nine months, making it unlikely he will be ready to play football until late 2025. He was also largely ineffective when he was healthy.
The team will likely select a quarterback during the 2025 NFL Draft, which is less than two weeks away. The Browns hold the No. 2 pick of the first round as well as the No. 33 overall selection. In total, the team has 10 selections in this month’s draft.
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