DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Browns Sign QB Joe Flacco

Adam Schefter
@AdamSchefter
Reunion: the Cleveland Browns and veteran quarterback Joe Flacco reached agreement today on a one-year, $4 million deal worth up to $13 million with incentives, his agency
@JLSports3
told ESPN. Flacco now will return to Cleveland, where he won the NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year award in 2023.

Flacco also spoke with the Steelers and Vikings but opted to spend his 18th NFL season with the Browns.




Probably deserves its own thread ... I bet we take Hunter now. JMO

Shouldn't have let him leave in the first place. Welcome back, Joe!

Agree. He earned a spot on the roster with what he did in 2023.

Good move. He’ll be a good mentor to any QB we draft.

Clearly the offense is going back to Stefanski's system - which was already hinted at. Does this eliminate any possible draft QBs, like Milroe? Does this enhance the chances of someone like Dart, Sanders, or Shough?

Ok, I feel a lot better now.. Joe is a solid pick up.

I just read a short article about this. All I can say is wow!

Dart is similar to a young Joe Flacco. Joe would be a good mentor for him IMO. Honestly, Tyler Shough is also similar to a young JF.

I'm not entirely sure about "going back" to "Stefanski's system." Don't get me wrong, I expect some aspects of it to come back, but I think it will evolve and we'll also see some new packages. I expect the run and pass to be "married together" much better than they looked to be last season, but it could look a bit different in some of the run concepts used with the new OL coaches in. I do expect some of the oldies but goodies to be back, but I expect personnel changes to result in some adjustments/new things as well. I think we might see some of Rees' influence also. I think whatever we end up with will better be categorized as a Stefanski-"style" system than "the" Stefanski system.


Personally, I think it might make Milroe more likely. He may have one/some of those "new packages," but wouldn't have to be rushed to be the starter. I'm not sure you could do that with Cousins. I actually think Milroe and Flacco have some similarities as passers. I think passing wise an ideal system would look similar as far as route concepts. Down field shots would have a sizeable presence.

I think it makes Shedeur less likely.

Great news! Welcome back, Joe. Lotsa luck and fewer picks. I am also thinking Hunter first, but think we should also make a play for Dart.
Something in him on the field looks like part of what I want. I am still concerned, but this is a relief for me. Been wrong before LOL.

Hedging my bets: Doubled my Kool-aid order for some booster shots, maybe a Kool-aid tailgate. . . . Win us some games!

I don't think a QB @ #2 was ever really a part of the plan and this only tends to solidify that. I don't think it impacts drafting a QB for the future however. Either @#33 nor moving back up to the bottom of the 1st to draft a QB. I like the Flacco signing but I don't think anyone believes that's anything other than a band aid and I don't think this FO feels it can survive another season like last year.

Agree. Joe was an all-round good guy. I thought he read defenses well, got the ball out quick and was eager to pass on his knowledge.

IMO we will go Hunter and then try to snag Dart somehow

Nice that said we are clearly better.
We can now have 3 number 1 wide receivers plus a 1500 back
Carter and Myles could lead a defense that was better then Philadelphia either way it is a win.

I am good with this. He sure made 2023 a fun season, especially when the media played his age up. The post-game interviews and him talking about his kids critiquing his game. I am OK with not taking a QB with #2, especially if we can drop back a few slots while picking up some decent additional draft picks. If they like Dart, you can still reach if you trade down to anywhere form 6-12. Who knows, maybe we could pick up a first next year or a second and a 3rd.

I just like that he gives the fans (FINALLY) a QB who we can all root for ... and he will push the ball down the field. We won't be boring. He will be step by step with KS. He much more fits KS approach than Watson

I'm happy because now we won't be trading for Cousins.

That makes two of us.

Flacco won’t play like a top 10 QB, but he’ll be steady. I don’t know if he can go 17 games, but I’m willing to see, especially since we will probably be going QB next year even if they pick one this year. I’d snag Will Howard this year in a later round if he’s there. He’d be a good gamble if you plan on going QB next year. I think He might have the goods to be a decent to better NFL QB and if he stinks it up a little, he’s a back up for his rookie contract.

I think unless the hotter names fall significantly, ALL of them will be a reach. So use the high picks to build the team for a rookie starter next year.

I love this signing! Browns football will be watchable again. Flacco is someone I can root for and feel good about. Plus he's been a decent QB for us.

And we didn't have to give up draft capitol either. We need all the picks we have and then some.

Yes, I feel much better about not drafting a mediocre QB at #2. We can do better (Maybe Hunter?) and draft/trade for a QB next year. This was a smart move. Fans are happy and they can draft BPA.

Just clicking, any bets on them Trading down from the 2nd, pick up a few more picks and then take Dart?

It was the safest and smartest choice plus Joe WANTED to play for Cleveland and turned down other teams to come here. I am happy we will have Joe for most of the season.

I’d say the chances of trading that #2 just skyrocketed IF we can find somebody to pay the price of trading up. Two first rounders next year would put us in prime condition for a QB.

Best bet would bet the saints given the carr injury

If they would give us their 2026 1st and 2025 2nd
(plus late round exchanges to make things work out)
Then I absolutely make that trade

the QB we draft, which I hope will be Dart in a trade-up, now doesn’t have to be rushed, or reached for.

Now with Joe in the fold, if we don’t trade down at 2, it’ll be Carter or Hunter.

The only thing putting the Browns in absolute prime position to take a top QB next year in a class that has several question marks is to tank.

Do not overthink this. The Browns tanked to earn the #2 draft pick. Draft Hunter rather than trading down. The team severely lacks offensive playmakers.

Quite honestly, I do not believe there is any reason for a team to trade up to #2 to take Sanders. The only team the Saints would possibly have to get ahead of to take Sanders would be the Jets and Raiders. In that case, just move up to #5 and trade with the Jaguars, maybe #4 with the Pats.

Tanking implies that we did it on purpose
Wew are not picking #2 because we tanked
We are picking #2 because we sucked
We are picking #2 because we played like #2

They tanked at the end of last season. When they started DTR and Bailey Zappe over Winston they were tanking.

Yes, the Browns are terrible. But to believe the team didn't tank towards the end of the season is comically naive. Playing Bailey Zappe? Starting DTR? To quote John McEnroe, "you cannot be serious?"

I noticed we had an outside shot at the #2 pick with four games left. I knew we wouldn't be winning another one. And it wasn't even close, we were outscored 100-26. If it makes anyone feel better, I guess we can call it quiet tanking.

No the Browns tanked BECAUSE they bent over backwards to cater to Watson. New blocking schemes, new O-line coach, New O- cord, new play caller. The season was doomed from the start even without Watsons injury.

I agree GM. Everything got changed to suit DW. We're going back to what made us winners in 2023. Last year was a totally wasted season. If we can strengthen some of our weaker positions and get some decent QB play we may surprise some people this year. Noone expects anything from us.

Similar stats with the Colts 2024 as with us 2023.

2024 - 8 games, 7,1 avg, 65,3% PCT, 12/7 TD/INT, 90,5 Rating
2023 - 5 games, 7,9 avg, 60,3% PCT, 13/8 TD/INT, 90,2 Rating

Hopefully two good WR will help but without a decent RB our offense will probably be a little bit predictable. He isn’t any younger but his game isn’t relying on physical strength so that shouldn’t be a big concern.

I rather take a bet on Flacco than Cousins. A much better injury record.
I also like the contract, less base salary and more incentives.

To be honest, I have doubts that the fan base would put up with tanking. But maybe I guess that is possible.

After I put up that post about Dart, I read that KS loves Milroe..

I always wonder who "leaks out" info like this or if KS said it during an on-camera interview. I can't help but think that 95% of these "takes" by reporters are just bait to throw the team's true intentions off.

Just based on my eye test the past two seasons, I prefer Flacco to Rodgers/Wilson/Cousins. He can still really throw it. He never relied on his legs, so he's aged better IMO

Agreed. We tanked benching Winston for those other two.