When Joe Flacco re-signed with the Cleveland Browns in April 2025, he made clear that he came back to finish what he started. The heartbreak of last season’s playoff exit still lingers, and Flacco isn’t ready to hang it up just yet.
“Listen, part of the excitement about coming back is the opportunity to kind of, hopefully, put a stamp on what happened a couple years ago and finish what we started,” Flacco said back in April.
For the 40-year-old Super Bowl MVP, it’s not just about suiting up – it’s about chasing unfinished business and proving he still belongs.
But Flacco’s path in Cleveland is complicated. Head coach Kevin Stefanski has yet to name a starter, and the Browns’ quarterback room is more crowded than ever.
Alongside Flacco are former Steelers starter Kenny Pickett and two high-profile rookies: third-round pick Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders, who landed in Cleveland after a dramatic draft-day slide.
Trade talk swirls as Flacco doubles down on competitive mindset
The presence of younger talent, particularly Sanders, has sparked rumors about Flacco’s long-term fit in Cleveland. Though widely respected for his leadership, Flacco has made it clear that he isn’t in town simply to mentor.
“I’m here to compete, not to mentor,” he said in a sentiment echoed throughout the offseason. That perspective, especially with a developmental quarterback like Sanders in the fold, has led to speculation about whether Cleveland might consider moving Flacco to a team more in need of a veteran presence.
On Pro Football Talk, analysts Mike Florio and Michael Holley discussed a possible trade scenario: sending Flacco to the Tennessee Titans to serve as a mentor for rookie Cam Ward.
In return, the Browns would acquire Will Levis, the Titans’ current starter, and inject more uncertainty – and talent – into their own QB battle.
“Put Joe Flacco in Tennessee as a mentor to Cam Ward and throw Will Levis into the Cleveland Browns quarterback circus. So that would be a lot of fun to watch,” Holley said.
Florio added: “Flacco leads by example. And I think Cam Ward is the kind of guy who also leads by studying the example of Joe Flacco. That could be something.”
While intriguing, such trade talk feels premature given recent reports from Browns insiders. According to team reporter Daniel Oyefusi, Flacco “operated the offense the best” and “pushed the ball downfield” more effectively than any other quarterback during the team’s OTAs.
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