At 39 years old, Flacco plans to explore free agency opportunities during the offseason, aiming for a chance to secure a starting position elsewhere. Nevertheless, according to Terry Pluto of cleveland.com, an anonymous general manager expressed doubts that Flacco would attract significant interest from teams.
The primary concern, according to Pluto, is Flacco’s turnovers.
“We spoke to Joe Flacco and he believes that the market for him will be limited,” Pluto shared on his podcast “Terry’s Talkin’.”
“Despite impressive statistics, turnovers are a significant concern in today’s football landscape. Coaches and teams are wary of players who frequently turn over the ball. It was reassuring to hear this perspective because I had assumed we wouldn’t have a chance at Flacco. However, he believes there will be opportunities.”
Flacco injected energy into the Browns’ offense during the regular season, boasting a 4-1 record in his starts and accumulating 1,616 passing yards and 13 touchdowns. However, turnovers proved problematic as he threw eight interceptions in his five regular-season outings.
In the Wild Card matchup against the Houston Texans, Flacco threw two additional interceptions, both returned for touchdowns, during a 45-14 defeat.
It wouldn’t come as a significant shock if Flacco doesn’t receive much interest. After all, he was inactive until mid-November last season when the Browns reached out to him.
While he demonstrated that he still possesses some skills, it might not be sufficient to secure a starting position.
The Browns erred by putting their trust in Deshaun Watson.
Under general manager Andrew Berry, the Browns had shown a willingness to invest in a backup quarterback before. Both Case Keenum and Jacoby Brissett, seasoned veterans, commanded substantial salaries while serving as dependable backups in Cleveland.
Last year marked a shift in this trend for the Browns. Prior to the season, they traded Joshua Dobbs and appointed rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson as the backup.
However, they encountered the worst-case scenario at quarterback, with Deshaun Watson only able to play in six games due to two shoulder injuries.
As a result, the Browns had to rely on five different quarterbacks throughout the season: Watson, Thompson-Robinson, PJ Walker, Joe Flacco, and Jeff Driskel, all of whom took turns starting.
Pluto pointed out that the Browns have been concerned about Deshaun Watson’s availability, citing his 12 games played over three years.
He criticized the Browns’ assumption last year that Watson would remain durable based on his past performance, leading them to trade away Dobbs and rely on Dorian Thompson-Robinson (DTR), whom they favored, and pick up PJ Walker from what he described as a “football rummage sale.”
Joe Flacco is open to the idea of returning to the Browns.
Flacco has expressed his desire to explore starting opportunities in free agency. However, if such opportunities don’t materialize for the former Super Bowl MVP, Cleveland remains a viable option.
“I’m willing to return to Cleveland, but I want to take my time before making any decisions,” Flacco mentioned during the “Pardon My Take” podcast on January 18. “I can’t emphasize enough how impressed I am with how this organization is currently being managed.”
Flacco recognizes that coming back to the Browns would entail serving as a backup to Watson, who is anticipated to be fully prepared for the start of training camp. The Browns are confident that Flacco’s return would not pose any concerns within the locker room.
Berry dismissed any concerns about potential controversy surrounding the decision to bring Flacco back, stating, “Zero considerations” due to the character of both individuals. He emphasized that internally, it’s not a concern whatsoever.
Furthermore, Berry highlighted the significance the team places on the backup quarterback position, describing it as one of the top 30 positions on the roster.
