Browns Trade Proposal Demotes Joe Flacco to Backup Duty

The Cleveland Browns could look to trade veteran quarterback Joe Flacco to the New England Patriots, clearing room in their crowded quarterback room while giving rookie Drake Maye a proven mentor in Foxborough.

Flacco is part of a four-man quarterback competition in Cleveland that also includes Kenny Pickett, Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel. Flacco is considered a frontrunner to be the Week 1 starter but much is still unsettled as the Browns search for the starter. The Browns have maintained the four-man quarterback competition is wide open and all of the passers have a shot to win the job.

If the Browns opt to go with a more youthful starter, the Browns will investigate trading Flacco. Mark Sipos of Dawg Pound Daily analyzed where each quarterback would fit best if they were not in Cleveland. He pegged the Patriots as a potential home for Flacco.

“The Patriots showed interest in Flacco earlier this offseason before he re-signed with Cleveland. Drake Maye has the keys now, but the depth behind him is shaky with Joshua Dobbs and Ben Wooldridge,” Sipos said. “Flacco would give New England a no-nonsense veteran who can manage the quarterback room, help prep Maye for gameday, and step in if needed without derailing the offense.”

Joe Flacco Trusting Proccess With Browns

Flacco saw limited reps during minicamp and OTAs. It wasn’t due to performance. His 200-plus career starts give the Browns confidence in what he brings. Despite the lighter workload, Flacco is all in and trusts Kevin Stefanski’s approach.

“I don’t know what the plan is exactly, but I trust Kevin and that he has a plan for all of this,” Flacco said. “That’s really all I can do. I’d love to go out there and take 120 reps a day, get in a groove and do all those things, but like I said, the coaches have a plan. Kevin has a plan, and my job is just to trust that, go out there and do the best I can.”

It has been reported that Flacco has the support of key veterans in the locker room, including Myles Garrett and Joel Bitonio — the longest tenured Browns player.

“He is coming in already knowing the situation. He is just one of the guys, which is the coolest thing ever. Obviously has the experience, but he is also poised and a competitor,” Bitonio told Barry Shuck of Dawgs by Nature. “He is a big dude and is probably the tallest guy in the huddle except for Dawand. He can see over everyone and is a lot stronger than you would think. He knows how to work the pocket and still has that mentality.”

Browns Open to Keeping All Their Quarterbacks

Even if Flacco doesn’t win the starting gig, there’s a chance he remains in Cleveland. The Browns have been adamant that keeping all four passers is on the table.

“Absolutely, absolutely, absolutely… if they all play well enough,” Browns general manager Andre Berry said to Jori Epstein of Yahoo Sports on the idea of keeping all their quarterbacks on the roster.

The Browns faced a similar situation last season. Deshaun Watson was the established start but Jameis Winston, Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Tyler Huntley were competing for the backup role. The Browns initially kept all four and searched for trades. However, they ultimately ended up releasing Huntley before Week 1.

Training camp kicks off July 18, with the Browns rookies reporting to Berea. Flacco and the veterans will join a few days later.