Joe Flacco’s NFL journey took another unexpected turn this week, shaking up the quarterback landscape in an unusual shuffle. The Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals have finally crossed lines in a rare trade. The move will have ripple effects not just for Flacco’s role but also shake up the young Browns quarterbacks waiting in the wings.

Cleveland is trading veteran Joe Flacco and a 6th-round pick to the Bengals for a 2026 5th-round pick. The 2026 6th-rounder is Detroit’s original pick. As Ian Rapoport confirms, it’s a “rare intra-division swap.” This rare trade within the same division marks the first official deal between these rivals. 

After Flacco was benched following a 1-3 start, Dillon Gabriel was named the starter. Turns out, even the rookie couldn’t avoid the Browns’ bad luck. Cleveland lost 21-17 to the Minnesota Vikings in London. In his debut, Gabriel became the 17th Browns QB since 1999 to lose their first game. Cleveland’s quarterback struggles continue. 

Meanwhile, Shedeur Sanders waits just a step behind Gabriel and Bailey Zappe lingers on the practice squad. Add Deshaun Watson, sidelined with an Achilles injury, possibly weeks away from practice, and it’s clear the Browns are betting on youth and future draft capital.

Cleveland’s quarterback strategy? Let the rookies roll and get a closer read before their two first-round picks in 2026. The Browns’ move is part of a broader plan to rebuild around youth rather than shuffle veterans, and Flacco’s exiting the scene is the clearest sign of that shift. But what does this mean for Cincinnati?

What the Bengals gain from Joe Flacco

The Bengals, now facing a three-month gap without Joe Burrow after toe surgery, are desperate to stop the bleeding. Their self-inflicted wounds, eight interceptions in just over three games under Jake Browning, have led to team blowouts and lost faith. The Bengals’ recent 37-24 loss to the Lions extended their losing streak to three straight without Burrow.

Flacco arrives with a pedigree and steady hands. His 18 NFL seasons have taught him how to pick up playbooks quickly and launch the deep ball with accuracy. It’s exactly what Cincinnati’s elite receiving corps, like Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, need after a stagnant offense under Browning. 

Flacco’s playoff-winning experience, including a Super Bowl 47 MVP trophy, brings a calming veteran presence to a locker room desperate for stability. This move by Cincinnati isn’t about long-term solutions; it’s about buying time. 

Flacco’s modest salary and free-agent status next spring make him a low-risk stopgap. He’s a known quantity who can keep the offense moving enough to bear the Burrow-less stretch. He won’t reinvent the Bengals overnight, but giving Chase and Higgins a quarterback who can actually find them changes the narrative from hopeless to hopeful.