Dawgs By Nature
The Cleveland Browns seemingly love to make moves at the quarterback position. This offseason, the Browns traded for QB Kenny Pickett, signed QB Joe Flacco and Tyler Huntley and drafted QBs Dillon Gabriel and Sheduer Sanders. Cleveland then released Huntley and traded Pickett before the season started, turning a five-man competition (Deshaun Watson was the sixth QB on the roster) into the final three on the initial 53-man roster.
With Flacco benched in favor of Gabriel, the veteran assumed the backup and support role for the rookie while Sanders remained as the emergency quarterback.
Now, reportedly, the Browns are trading Flacco to the Cincinnati Bengals:
According to multiple reports, Cleveland is obtaining a fifth-round pick in exchange for Flacco and the Detroit Lions sixth-rounder. The Bengals have been struggling with Jake Browning starting at quarterback since Joe Burrow went down with an injury. Flacco provides the team with a veteran to challenge Browning and, perhaps, provide a spark as he did when the Browns acquired him two seasons ago.
Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com noted that Flacco was not interested in backing up all season but did not ask for the trade:
For Cleveland, Sanders is likely to move up to the backup spot, but it is possible that veteran Bailey Zappe, currently on the practice squad, could step into the role instead. The Browns could also look to sign Huntley off of the Baltimore Ravens practice squad to provide the veteran backup role as well.
This is the first-ever trade between the in-state rivals:
The team made the trade official on Tuesday afternoon:
The Browns are off on Tuesday, so the first chance to hear from HC Kevin Stefanski and players will come on Wednesday, if/when the Flacco trade becomes official.
What do you think about the Browns dealing Flacco at this point in the season? What about the return in the trade and the fact that it is to the Bengals, do either of those things impact your feelings on the deal?
Share your thoughts with us in the comment section below
