A reunion of Joe Flacco and the Browns is possible, but it depends on whether other teams dangle a starting opportunity for Flacco.
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
The Browns had a good dialogue about Joe Flacco at the NFL Combine, but the quarterback who sparked their late-season playoff run is ready to enter the free agent market on Monday.
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.
If not, Flacco would be happy to return to the Browns in a backup role to Deshaun Watson. And the Browns are receptive to that.
In fact, agent Joe Linta and Browns GM Andrew Berry have discussed general parameters of a contract, according to a league source. It would be a multi-year deal that would be compliant with Berry’s salary cap objectives.
“Money won’t be an issue,” said the source.
Flacco, 39, wants to play for at least two more seasons.
The Browns and Linta are expected to reconnect at the end of this week.
There is no other foreseeable team with whom Flacco would accept a pure backup deal other than the Browns.
The question is if there is a team that would offer Flacco a more realistic opportunity to start. Nobody knows until the “legal tampering” period begins on Monday.
Flacco would prefer to sign a deal “sooner than later,” but has no specific timetable to secure his team in 2024.