Joe Flacco
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Bleacher Report's Gary Davenport argued the Cleveland Browns should strongly consider cutting former Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco.
The Cleveland Browns have a lot of uncertainty at quarterback. That’s what happens for teams with five signal-callers on the offseason roster. One thing, though, has been rather clear for Cleveland — veteran Joe Flacco is projected to be the team’s starter behind center when the 2025 NFL regular season begins.
However, Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport disagrees with the plan to start Flacco. On Thursday, Davenport strongly argued the Browns should start Kenny Pickett to begin the season instead and cut Flacco.
“Right now, Joe Flacco is the only healthy quarterback on Cleveland’s dumpster fire of a roster. He’s also the only signal-caller in town who has experienced any real success in the NFL,” wrote Davenport.
“But he should absolutely not see the field for the Browns in 2025.
“Want experience? Fine. See if 2022 first-round pick Kenny Pickett can turn his career around in Cleveland. But at some point, the Browns have to see what they have in rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders, especially after surprisingly using a third-round pick on the former.
“Cleveland has a pair of first-rounders in 2026: their own and Jacksonville’s. Flacco isn’t going to miraculously lead the Browns to the playoffs a la 2023. But he could win just enough games to mess up their chances of drafting an elite quarterback prospect without using both picks to trade up.”
The Browns brought back Flacco on a one-year deal in April. The 40-year-old spent the 2024 season with the Indianapolis Colts.
As Davenport mentioned, Flacco surprisingly led the Browns to the postseason during the 2023 season. He ended that campaign as the team’s starter, leading the team to a 4-1 record in the last five games.