The Cleveland Browns have brought back quarterback Joe Flacco for the 2025 NFL season on a one-year deal for $4 million and up to $13 million with incentives, per reports.
Flacco returns to Cleveland after a year with the Indianapolis Colts in which he went 2-4 as a starter and played in eight games. In 2023, Flacco went 4-1 as the Browns' starter late in the season to secure a wild card berth in the playoffs. Without Flacco in 2024, the Browns went 3-14 as Jameis Winston, Deshaun Watson, Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Bailey Zappe each started at least one game.
That season earned the Browns the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft.
The Tennessee Titans hold the No. 1 pick and are expected to draft quarterback Cam Ward. That leaves the Browns with options to either draft a quarterback – almost certainly Colorado's Shedeur Sanders – or select the best player available, either Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter or Colorado cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter.
Here's the draft implications for the Browns signing Flacco:
How Flacco changes Browns' draft outlook
Signing Flacco to a one-year deal ...
