It will be a very interesting playoff opener for the Browns. What will they do with Joe Flacco next year if he leads them to a win on the road against the AFC South champion (be it Jacksonville, Houston or Indy)?
It’s been a long time since Deshaun Watson has played at high level. He’s been underwhelming in two seasons with the Browns and chose not to play for Houston in 2021. But at the same time, Watson signed a five-year contract worth $230 million, with all of the money guaranteed.
Flacco seems like a much better fit for Kevin Stefanski’s offense, with more ability to connect on downfield passes. He’s thrown for 300-plus yards and multiple touchdowns in each of his last four games.
Flacco, it should be noted has also mixed in some wildly ill-advised throws. He’s thrown interceptions in all of those games. If he throws for 300-plus yards and an interception in his next start, he’ll tie the longest such streak in league history.
CONSECUTIVE GAMES WITH 300 YARDS & INT | |||
---|---|---|---|
Year | Player | Tm | No |
2018 | Patrick Mahomes | K.C. | 5 |
2023 | Joe Flacco | Cle. | 4 |
2022 | Patrick Mahomes | K.C. | 4 |
2018 | Deshaun Watson | Hou. | 4 |
2011 | Drew Brees | N.O. | 4 |
2010 | Matt Schaub | Hou. | 4 |
2000 | Kurt Warner | St.L. | 4 |
Statistics compiled using search tools at Pro-Football-Reference.com
Flacco is also 39 years old. But if he plays reasonably well in the postseason, I think the Browns will want to bring him back. (I don’t think any other teams will have much interest in signing him.)
Given the financial commitment, I think the Browns have no real choice but to trudge forward with Watson, hoping he can re-emerge as an above-average quarterback. But if the 2024 season begins and there’s no sign of that happening, I could see them choosing to put Flacco in the starting lineup while Watson tries to repair his game on the practice field.
Which brings us to dynasty leagues (which I visit once a week during the regular season). In such a format, with teams controlling player rights indefinitely, I could see rostering Flacco about 30 quarterbacks into a draft. That may seem high, but he’ll be pushed down another five spots after the college draft in April.
I think it’s fair to compare Flacco in such a format with the likes of Russell Wilson, Kenny Pickett, Desmond Ridder, Sam Howell and Aidan O’Connell. If Flacco were to get some starts for the 2024 Browns, I could see him delivering some decent games. But Watson is still the quarterback there that they’re banking on; I see Watson as a low-level second quarterback in such a format.
Updated rankings appear below. Rookies tagged with black dots. Assuming standard scoring on this one.
To see rankings for the other notable positions (RB, WR, TE) use the “past issues” navigation box on this page.
DYNASTY QUARTERBACKS | |||
---|---|---|---|
Rk | Tm | Player | Age |
1. | KC | Patrick Mahomes | 28.3 |
2. | CIN | Joe Burrow | 27.1 |
3. | HOU | • C.J. Stroud | 22.3 |
4. | BUF | Josh Allen | 27.6 |
5. | PHI | Jalen Hurts | 25.4 |
6. | SF | Brock Purdy | 24.0 |
7. | BAL | Lamar Jackson | 27.0 |
8. | LAC | Justin Herbert | 25.8 |
9. | JAC | Trevor Lawrence | 24.2 |
10. | IND | • Anthony Richardson | 21.6 |
11. | DAL | Dak Prescott | 30.4 |
12. | GB | Jordan Love | 25.2 |
13. | DET | Jared Goff | 29.2 |
14. | ARI | Kyler Murray | 26.4 |
15. | MIA | Tua Tagovailoa | 25.8 |
16. | MIN | Kirk Cousins | 35.4 |
17. | CHI | Justin Fields | 24.8 |
18. | LAR | Matthew Stafford | 35.9 |
19. | NYJ | Aaron Rodgers | 40.1 |
20. | TB | Baker Mayfield | 28.7 |
21. | CAR | • Bryce Young | 22.4 |
22. | CLE | Deshaun Watson | 28.3 |
23. | TEN | • Will Levis | 24.5 |
24. | NYG | Daniel Jones | 26.6 |
25. | NO | Derek Carr | 32.8 |
26. | SEA | Geno Smith | 33.2 |
27. | DEN | Jarrett Stidham | 27.4 |
28. | CLE | Joe Flacco | 39.0 |
29. | PIT | Kenny Pickett | 25.6 |
30. | WAS | Sam Howell | 23.3 |
31. | LV | • Aidan O'Connell | 25.3 |
32. | DEN | Russell Wilson | 35.1 |
33. | DET | • Hendon Hooker | 26.0 |
34. | IND | Gardner Minshew | 28.6 |
35. | NE | Bailey Zappe | 24.7 |
36. | ATL | Desmond Ridder | 24.3 |
37. | NE | Mac Jones | 25.3 |
38. | SF | Sam Darnold | 26.6 |
39. | LAR | Carson Wentz | 31.0 |
40. | CHI | • Tyson Bagent | 23.6 |
—Ian Allan