Browns' Joe Flacco sends message to QB-needy teams

Multiple stories shared on Tuesday indicated that veteran quarterback Joe Flacco may prefer to re-sign with the Cleveland Browns to serve as their backup behind Deshaun Watson rather than join a club that could allow Flacco to compete for a starting job this summer. 

Such reports may not have been as spot-on as first thought. 

Browns insider Tony Grossi of ESPN Cleveland/The Land on Demand has since revealed that Flacco "wants to see if any team 'comes out of the woodwork' and makes an offer in the first week of free agency for an opportunity to compete for a starting job." The league's legal tampering period for free agency begins this coming Monday. 

Grossi added that Flacco "has no specific timetable to secure his team in 2024" but "would be happy to return to the Browns in a backup role." According to Grossi, "money won’t be an issue" regarding agent Joe Linta and Browns general manager Andrew Berry coming to terms on a multi-year deal if no team promises Flacco an opportunity to win a QB1 gig. 

Flacco famously began this past regular season as an unsigned free agent but joined the Browns in November and ultimately earned Associated Press Comeback Player of the Year honors after he won four of five starts while playing under offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt. Van Pelt now has that same job with the New England Patriots, and it's believed New England could target a veteran such as Flacco to start this fall ahead of a rookie that the Patriots may select with the third overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft. 

If Flacco doesn't sign with New England for whatever reasons, he could receive a call from the Minnesota Vikings. Kirk Cousins reportedly is preparing to leave Minnesota to head to the Atlanta Falcons, and that could leave the Vikings needing a bridge option at quarterback.

The Pittsburgh Steelers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Chicago Bears are among clubs that reportedly have made non-Flacco-related quarterback plans for 2024. While speaking at the NFL scouting combine last week, Las Vegas Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce directly said he does not "want to put a Band-Aid at that position."

It remains to be seen how the Patriots, Vikings and other teams will react to Flacco's "come get me" plea. Either way, the 39-year-old should soon learn how he's viewed outside of Cleveland as it pertains to being anything other than a primary backup.