Flacco Fever is officially back in Cleveland after quarterback Joe Flacco and the Cleveland Browns have agreed upon a one-year deal.
This all but ends the talks of Kirk Cousins in Cleveland and reunites the team with their hero from the 2023 season who went 4-1 as the starting quarterback en route to a wildcard berth. We now have the contract details of the newest Browns' NFL free agency signing as well. And it carries some heavy implications.
The Browns inked Flacco to a one-year deal worth a base salary of just $4 million. This does not look sexy or dangerous. However, Flacco's deal can be worth up to $13 million in incentives. This carries heavy implications for what it means for the Browns' 2025 season:
Flacco will have a chance to be the starting quarterback of the Browns.
Teams and players do not build in that high of a ceiling unless it is possible for that ceiling to be reached. The team has already stated they believe in Kenny Pickett, acquired from the Philadelphia Eagles last month, and he will get a chance to compete to start. The team will undoubtedly draft a quarterback in the first two days of the 2025 NFL draft as well to complete the overhaul.
We'll see if Flacco sniffs close to that $13 million in incentives, but he'll be given the chance to compete with Pickett and whatever rookie quarterback is brought in for the starting job.
This article originally appeared on Browns Wire: Browns bake QB competition into contract of Joe Flacco
