The Browns checked off one box regarding their new quarterback plan Thursday, making an active-roster deal official with Joe Flacco. But the contract does not profile as a prorated veteran-minimum accord.
Flacco, whom the Browns named the starter for the season’s remainder, agreed to a one-year deal. The 38-year-old passer will officially join Cleveland’s 53-man roster; he had spent the past two games as a gameday elevation from the practice squad. Considering Flacco’s new status, this move was expected. But the Browns will dangle come additional carrots for their fourth QB1 this season.
This contract can max out at $4.05M, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter, with Browns wins being the driver here. The team included language that will lead to Flacco collecting $75K for each Browns victory over the final four regular-season games. If the Browns are to advance to the postseason, Flacco would have a chance to make more money. A wild-card win would produce a $250K Flacco payment, per Schefter, who adds a divisional-round win would provide him with an additional $500K.
The Browns have not won a divisional-round game since the original franchise defeated the Bills in a 1989 shootout. Neither Browns franchise has won a conference championship game (post-merger, that is), but Schefter adds Flacco would receive $1M for Cleveland winning the AFC title and $2M for a Super Bowl LVIII conquest.
Flacco said he is not aware of any other team attempting to sign him off the Browns’ practice squad. Considering the form he has shown in Kevin Stefanski‘s offense early, the 16th-year veteran said (via cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot) he would not have gone elsewhere had another team called. After two games, the Browns saw enough to end any debate regarding Flacco or Dorian Thompson-Robinson as the starter.
While playoff success has been scarce for the Browns since they rebooted in 1999, the team sits in the top wild-card spot presently. At 8-5, Cleveland is a game up on a group of 7-6 teams jockeying for postseason position. Despite the Browns playing with backup tackles and a backup running back, Flacco stepped in and played well in his two starts. The Browns will be without Dawand Jones and Jedrick Wills the rest of the way, with the fourth-year left tackle undergoing knee surgery that will keep him from coming off IR later this season. Flacco will nevertheless attempt to keep this damaged car on the road over the final four regular-season games.
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