The Cleveland Browns let quarterback Joe Flacco walk after his workout on Friday, opening the door for another notable free agent to fill the void left by Deshaun Watson.
In the third round of the 2010 NFL Draft, Cleveland selected Colt McCoy with the No. 85 pick. McCoy started 21 games for the Browns over the next two seasons before being demoted to the backup position for the 2012 season. McCoy was traded to the San Francisco 49ers in April 2013, and he’s been playing in various uniforms ever since, primarily as a backup.
Now 37 years old, McCoy makes sense in the Browns locker room — first as a backup to Dorian Thompson-Robinson, and possibly as a veteran starter in games with playoff implications if the rookie proves unprepared to take the reins.
Joe Flacco is the Browns’ preferred quarterback over Colt McCoy and other options.
Flacco was the only quarterback to work out with Cleveland on Friday and remains the team’s “primary target,” according to Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot.
“Updated: Joe Flacco left Cleveland without a deal after working out for the #Browns on Friday, but he could still become their 3rd QB soon,” Cabot wrote on Twitter on Friday. “By next week, they’ll have added one [quarterback] to the active roster or practice squad.”
When comparing the length of each player’s career, Flacco clearly outperforms McCoy. He is 99-81 as an NFL starter and was named Super Bowl MVP after the 2012 season. However, the two quarterbacks’ respective productivity over the last few seasons tells a different story.
Flacco most recently played for the New York Jets, where he started four games and went 1-3. Flacco is 0-8 in three years in New York and has a career record of 3-14 since parting ways with the Baltimore Ravens, with whom he had the best years of his career, following the 2018 season.
When the length of each player’s career is considered, Flacco clearly outperforms McCoy. He has a 99-81 record as an NFL starter and was named Super Bowl MVP following the 2012 season. However, the respective productivity of the two quarterbacks over the last few seasons tells a different story.
Flacco was most recently with the New York Jets, where he started four games and finished 1-3. Flacco is 0-8 in three years in New York and has a career record of 3-14 since parting ways with the Baltimore Ravens, with whom he had his best years, after the 2018 season.
The Minnesota Vikings held a workout for McCoy in October following the back injury suffered by then-backup quarterback Nick Mullens, but he was never signed. Minnesota then made a trade with the Cardinals to acquire Josh Dobbs, who took over McCoy’s role as the injured Kyler Murray’s backup in Arizona just ahead of the 2023 season.
When it comes to Cleveland offering McCoy a chance to make the team, other playoff-caliber teams’ interest in him should be taken into account. Others, however, should be considered as well.
Matt Ryan and Cam Newton, both former regular-season MVPs, have expressed interest in playing in 2023 and are still available in free agency. Earlier this week, CBS Sports’ John Breech suggested Tom Brady as a possible replacement for the Browns, who have the league’s best defense and second-best rush offense heading into Week 11.
Whoever the organization ultimately chooses will not join the team for several days. That means Thompson-Robinson and former third-string quarterback P.J. Walker will have to carry the load against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.
Leave a Reply