Will Joe Flacco return to the Browns over a possible starting job?

Perhaps veteran quarterback Joe Flacco would welcome an offseason return to the Cleveland Browns over joining a club that may make him a temporary starter, such as the New England Patriots. 

In a mailbag published on Tuesday, Browns beat writer Scott Petrak of The Chronicle-Telegram and The Medina Gazette wrote that he was "starting to believe it's a good chance" Flacco re-signs with the Browns to serve as the backup behind undisputed QB1 Deshaun Watson. 

"Flacco’s affinity for Cleveland is real after the thrilling end to the regular season that revived his career," Petrak explained. "He’s also 39 and unlikely to be handed a starting job anywhere, so a return to Cleveland could work for both sides." 

On Tuesday afternoon, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reported that "a reunion with the Browns is Flacco’s first choice." Florio also revealed that Flacco’s camp and the Browns discussed continuing their working relationship at the combine last week. 

Multiple reporters recently linked Flacco with the Patriots after he earned Associated Press Comeback Player of the Year honors playing under current New England offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt with Cleveland this past season. In total, Flacco won four of five starts to help guide the 2023 Browns to a playoff berth. 

Many expect the Patriots will select a quarterback such as North Carolina's Drake Maye with the third overall pick of this year's draft and then sit the rookie behind a veteran such as Flacco. 

Former Washington Commanders QB Jacoby Brissett also has experience working with Van Pelt and could head to New England if Flacco stays with Cleveland. 

It's believed a big reason the Browns replaced Van Pelt with Ken Dorsey this offseason is that individuals within the organization hope Dorsey will help get the best out of Watson. Watson earned three Pro Bowl nods with the Houston Texans from 2017-21 but has started just 12 regular-season games for the Browns since the fall of 2022. 

The 28-year-old is coming off a shoulder injury that cost him over half of the 2023 campaign. 

"The Browns must be comfortable with the likelihood of fans calling for Flacco if Watson were to stumble, but that shouldn’t be a dealbreaker," Petrak added. "Both are liked within the locker room."

Some have suggested the Browns could make a move for Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields before Chicago likely takes USC Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams with the first pick of this year's draft. 

The Flacco updates indicate that Cleveland general manager Andrew Berry instead wants to ensure that Watson doesn't feel threatened by the state of the club's quarterback room this summer.