Sportsnaut
The Cleveland Browns‘ four-man quarterback battle is more than a month in, with offseason workouts providing an early look at each of the signal-callers. While a starter hasn’t been named, there seems to be a clear standout right now in Cleveland.
As part of The Athletic‘s observations from NFL offseason workouts for all 32 teams, Browns reporter Zac Jackson highlighted everything veteran quarterback Joe Flacco has brought to the table.
“Even if Joe Flacco doesn’t win the starting job, or doesn’t keep it past Halloween, the Browns made a smart move in April when they brought him back on a one-year deal. Flacco is the best pure thrower of the four-man quarterback group, even at 40, but it’s his steadiness and experience that make him such a valuable addition right now. Flacco both mastered the offense quickly and earned the respect of the locker room during his 2023 stint with Cleveland. It was clear this spring that players, young and old, can lean on Flacco as the Browns go about the business of trying to fix their broken offense.” — Zac Jackson“
The Athletic’s Zac Jackson on Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco
Related: Predicting when top rookie QBs make first start, including Browns’ duo
Cleveland signed Flacco in April, agreeing to a one-year deal worth $4 million. The 40-year-old quarterback was viewed as the favorite entering the offseason for a few reasons. Thus far, he’s been the standout and is proving to be incredibly valuable to the coaching staff and the young quarterbacks.
Flacco’s first advantage comes from his familiarity with Kevin Stefanski’s system, having served as the Browns’ starting quarterback for five games in 2023. That familiarity allows him to help offer guidance to Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel, while also giving him a leg up in the competition.
Related: Reporter predicts which Cleveland Browns QB starts most games
He’s also demonstrating the most arm strength of the four quarterbacks, which could prove beneficial to a Browns offense in need of more explosive plays. Already possessing the physical and mental advantage to this point, Flacco also seems to be separating himself as a leader in the locker room.
All of these factors point to Flacco likely being named the Browns’ starting quarterback in Week 1. It’s still highly unlikely that he would hold down the job all season, but Flacco should be out there in September.
More must-reads:
