Indianapolis Colts backup signal-caller Joe Flacco may very well emerge as one of the most sought-after quarterbacks ahead of the Nov. 5 trade deadline.
Several teams are either struggling at the position (Las Vegas Raiders, Tennessee Titans and Cleveland Browns especially) or have been hit with an injury to their starter (Miami Dolphins with Tua Tagovailoa and Green Bay Packers with Jordan Love). This makes Joe Flacco a compelling trade target for teams looking to upgrade their QB depth before the deadline hits.
The Colts are clearly all-in on second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson, and GM Chris Ballard would be wise to take advantage of the market by dealing the 2023 Comeback Player of the Year to the highest bidder.
But no team makes moe sense for Joe Flacco right now than the team that helped him rejuvenate his career. That would be the Browns, who are being held back by the awful play of $230 million man Deshaun Watson.
The Browns signed Flacco late in the 2023 season after losing Watson for the year with a shoulder injury. Flacco won four of five starts and threw 13 touchdowns against eight interceptions, leading Cleveland to an 11-6 finish and Wild Card Berth.
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The numbers don’t lie: Joe Flacco was the Browns’ best QB by a country mile last year. He averaged 323.2 passing yards per game and 7.9 yards per pass attempt. Watson averaged 185.8 yards and 6.5 yards per pass attempt.
Flacco knows the Browns offense and how to maximize the star-studded supporting cast. Watson doesn’t, and the Browns can’t afford to led the 29-year-old single-handedly waste another season of their competitive window.
What Browns Should Offer Colts For Joe Flacco
Cleveland should offer Indianapolis their 2025 sixth-round pick and a conditional 2026 fifth-round selection that can become a fourth depending on Flacco’s playing time. The Browns saved Flacco’s career once a year ago, and the well-rested 39-year-old should have no issue picking up where he left off in Kevin Stefanski’s system.
