After falling to 1-4, the Cleveland Browns may need to do a lot of soul-searching about how they can turn the tide for the 2025 NFL season. It was well known, even before he was benched, that QB Joe Flacco was not a part of the long-term future, but there was hope he could help stabilize the ship until either QB Dillon Gabriel or QB Shedeur Sanders were ready to take the helm.
Now, Flacco won’t be a part of the Browns present either after being traded to the Cincinnati Bengals on Tuesday.
Cleveland’s
quarterback situation was messy and rumors persist about Sanders (and Deshaun Watson) plans for this season. Many wondered why Sanders didn’t get the reins instead of Gabriel when Flacco was benched but it has been clear how the Browns view their rookie quarterbacks.
With Flacco gone, Gabriel and Sanders are without a veteran presence on the active roster. QB Bailey Zappe has some experience but has only played in a total of 15 games since entering the league in 2022. Sanders and Flacco had some unique interactions, including one about the veteran not dancing, during their shared time in Cleveland. Shortly after the trade, Sanders was interviewed by Fox 8 (while at a car dealership):
Unlike the panomime interview from last week, Sanders’ response was measured, and you can see how much he appreciated the veteran’s assistance.
