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Browns Sign Pro Bowl QB Amid Deshaun Watson Struggles

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Max Escarpio | Last updated Apr 11, 2025 8:59 AM ET

The Cleveland Browns have been searching for a long-term play at quarterback for years. Despite previously trading for Deshaun Watson in one of the biggest blockbuster deals in NFL history, Cleveland is back on the market.

Last season, the Browns started Watson, but the veteran signal-caller went down with an Achilles injury, leaving the keys to the offense to Jameis Winston for much of the season.

As Winston heads to the New York Giants and Watson rehabs, Cleveland has made a move at quarterback.

According to Adam Schefter, the Browns have officially signed Joe Flacco to a one-year, $4 million deal, worth up to $13 million with incentives.

Watson was set to be the Browns long-term solution, when the organization tarded for the former first-round pick and agreed to a contract worth over $200 million guaranteed, but he's struggled with Clevaland.

Before his injury last season, Watson posted five touchdowns and 1,148 yards in seven games.

Reunion: the Cleveland Browns and veteran quarterback Joe Flacco reached agreement today on a one-year, $4 million deal worth up to $13 million with incentives, his agency @JLSports3 told ESPN. Flacco now will return to Cleveland, where he won the NFL’s Comeback Player of the… pic.twitter.com/pOaCuhrVmS
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 11, 2025

Flacco played with the Indianapolis Colts during the 2024 season, posting 12 touchdowns and 1,761 yards. Flacco played in relief of Colts starter Anthony Richardson, who also dealt with injury woes last season.

Just one season before heading to Indianapolis, Flacco played with the Cleveland Browns. In his lone season with the Browns in 2023, Flacco recorded 13 touchdowns and 1,616 yards, completing 60.3% of his pass attempts.

The Browns' quarterback room now includes Flacco, Watson and former Pittsburgh Steelers/Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Kenny Pickett.

Cleveland has been linked to drafting a quarterback for quite some time, holding the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

The top quarterbacks available on many experts' draft boards are Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders. They're may be a quarterback taken with the first overall pick to the Tennessee Titans, but Cleveland would then land on the top option.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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