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Browns Decided to Sign Veteran QB to 4-Year, $22 Million Deal which will Led the Team
The Cleveland Browns aren’t focused on their future at quarterback as they turn the corner into the playoffs, but as soon as this run ends they will be.
Cleveland decided long ago — and probably much to its chagrin now — to lock up Deshaun Watson on a five-year deal worth $230 million guaranteed. With three more seasons left on that deal, the team is stuck with a QB who has mostly underperformed when he’s been on the field, which hasn’t been all that often due to an NFL suspension in 2022 and a bum throwing shoulder this year.
Even if Watson could play in the postseason, the Browns would almost certainly stick with the red-hot Joe Flacco, who has earned a new contract and should be in line to get one despite the albatross that is Watson’s deal oppressing Cleveland’s cap sheet through the 2026 campaign.
On December 27, Michael Ginnitti of Spotrac predicted the Browns will sign Flacco to a two-year deal this offseason.
“Cleveland doubles down on an already expensive QB situation, signing Joe Flacco to a two-year, $12 million extension ($7.5 million guaranteed) to remain a viable fill-in for Deshaun Watson, who sees his base salary converted to [a] signing bonus, freeing up $36 million of cap space,” Ginnitti wrote.
Joe Flacco Controls Future, Will Seek Starting Job in 2024
Ginnitti’s prediction is not outlandish, but contains one potentially erroneous assumption — that Flacco is willing to take a backseat to Watson and/or that Cleveland will ask him to do so.
Browns fans are going to demand the franchise bring Flacco back in 2024, and the calls will only grow louder if he is able to make some noise in the playoffs. The QB has thrown for over 300 yards in each of the previous four games, pushing the ball downfield consistently and effectively on the way to four consecutive wins.
Flacco, now 38, will garner interest from other teams in free agency due to his resurgent play. He doesn’t need money, having earned north of $175 million and counting in his NFL career, which affords him the leverage to pursue whatever circumstances he finds most suitable.
In other words, Flacco wants to play and he’s going to find a team willing to let him start the season as QB1.