The Browns may have tipped their hand about their NFL draft plans.
Cleveland is reuniting with veteran quarterback Joe Flacco on a one-year, $4 million deal that can be worth up to $13 million with incentives, ESPN reported Friday.
With the 2025 NFL Draft now 13 days away, the Browns have three quarterbacks on the roster in Flacco, offseason acquisition Kenny Pickett and rehabbing incumbent starter Deshaun Watson.
The presence of those three comes at a time when the Browns, owners of the No. 2 pick, are expected to take Heisman Trophy winner and two-way phenom Travis Hunter.
Hunter, a star cornerback and receiver with Colorado, entered the week with -250 odds at FanDuel to be the No. 2 pick.
If the Browns are locked in on Hunter — the тιтans are widely expected to take Miami quarterback Cam Ward with the first pick — it means they’ve decided to pᴀss on Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders.
Rumors have intensified that Sanders may slip in the draft, even past the quarterback-needy Giants with the third pick. The Saints are the betting favorites to land him with the ninth pick.
If drafting Hunter — or Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter — and pᴀssing on Sanders is the plan, then it lines up with why the Browns would sign Flacco to a deal that can pay him handsomely.
There is uncertainty about when Watson will return from his pair of Achilles injuries, which left the team with just the underwhelming Pickett as its top option before this move.
Flacco, 40, presumably provides compeтιтion for Pickett and insurance against Watson not being available.
Watson underwent a second surgery to repair his ruptured right Achilles tendon in January and the team labeled his chances of returning “uncertain.”
“Watson’s recovery time and return to play status is uncertain, and he will likely miss significant time during the 2025 season,” the team said in January.
Flacco, a one-time Super Bowl champion, is returning to the franchise that revitalized his career in 2023 when he joined the Browns midseason to replace a sidelined Watson and led a playoff run.
He earned Comeback Player of the Year honors for his efforts, despite appearing in just five games.
Flacco joined the Colts last year and did not enjoy the same success, throwing 12 touchdowns to seven interceptions across eight games.
This season will mark Flacco’s 18th in the NFL.
Flacco also held discussions with the Vikings and Steelers, per ESPN, with the latter expressing interest while waiting for Aaron Rodgers to make a decision.
