The Cleveland Browns brought back quarterback Joe Flacco this past offseason, giving him the early lead in their four-way quarterback battle entering the 2025 season.
And through the Spring, Flacco is doing just what the Browns and others have expected him to do. While Flacco has stated that his job is not to mentor the young quarterbacks, it is apparent they are following his example on the field. According to The Athletic’s Zac Jackson, Flacco has already commanded the locker room as well in his second stint with the team as well.
Here is what Jackson had to say on Flacco through the Spring with training camp about one month away:
“Flacco is the best pure thrower of the four-man quarterback group, even at 40, but it’s his steadiness and experience that make him such a valuable addition right now. Flacco both mastered the offense quickly and earned the respect of the locker room during his 2023 stint with Cleveland. It was clear this spring that players, young and old, can lean on Flacco as the Browns go about the business of trying to fix their broken offense.”
Flacco is the front-runner to win the starting job when Week 1 rolls around. Even NFL insider Albert Breer stated that the 40-year-old quarterback essentially was given a “first round bye” in the competition with his lack of reps in the Spring.
The Browns are clearly using the 2025 season to reset the franchise after the abysmal Deshaun Watson era. If Flacco’s sole purpose is to help the Browns rebuild some sort of a foundation, even in a down year, then the re-signing of the fan favorite will be well worth the investment.
This article originally appeared on Browns Wire: Browns QB Joe Flacco already re-commanding the locker room
Reporting by Cory Kinnan, Browns Wire / Browns Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
