Veteran Icon Joe Flacco intends to play in the 2025 season as he will become a free agent this upcoming offseason. According to Pro Football Talk, Flacco does not plan to hang up the cleats anytime soon and there will be multiple teams looking toward him for depth. Originally selected in the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft, the former Super Bowl MVP became one of the keystone quarterbacks in Baltimore Ravens history. However, all things must come to an end, the Ravens sent Flacco in a trade to the Denver Broncos in 2019.
Flacco was a journeyman for the rest of his NFL career since spending the first 10 years with the Ravens, helping them lead the team to the postseason six times. Despite his unproductivity, he finally found his rhythm last season playing for the Cleveland Browns winning the NFL Comeback Player of the Year. Flacco helped the team head to their first playoff since the Baker Mayfield Days following Deshaun Watson‘s season-ending injury. However, the quarterback has been declining since injuries have been slowing him down from ever becoming a starter in the league anymore since losing the starting job to Lamar Jackson in 2018.
Flacco is past his prime days and he’s nothing more but a bridge quarterback for teams that are rebuilding a roster. At the height of his career, he was known for having one of the strongest arms but these three teams could bring out little life he has left in the tank.
Joe Flacco Intends To Play in 2025 – Ravens, Panthers, Saints Could Pursue Him
Final Run in Baltimore
This would be a no-brainer move for the Baltimore Ravens following the long history they have together. While no one is ever taking Lamar Jackson’s job, Flacco could be a solid backup considering he knows the offensive scheme run by head coach John Harbaugh. Even though things aren’t the same in Baltimore, he would easily step in to make one final run with the team before he finally hangs his cleats. Josh Johnson is no reliable backup which spells bad news for the entire offense if they lose Jackson in the postseason.
Furthermore, Flacco doesn’t need to take multiple reps to be reliable as he will be ready for the opportunity as soon as it rises to the occasion.
Figuring Out Carolina
If the Carolina Panthers don’t see a future in Bryce Young, it may be best to part ways with him while they can. Plenty of teams will look for a new signal-caller and since the Panthers don’t have a ton of help on offense, they could be embracing the tank for one more season. With Adam Thielen possibly leaving and rookie Xavier Legette moving up the depth chart, they could use Flacco to avoid being lifeless. Flacco probably won’t do much in Carolina considering the weapons they have but he could win a few games and draft a quarterback to learn behind him.
One More Ring
Meanwhile, the New Orleans Saints want to win now as General Manager Mickey Loomis does not want to rebuild. Instead, they’re looking to bring back familiar faces but that probably won’t happen considering their salary cap situation. Let’s say Derek Carr doesn’t come back, the ball will be up to rookie Spencer Rattler who isn’t ready for a full-time start. The good news is that if Flacco is available, they could bring him in to lead the Saints to a postseason to put skills to the test and put Rattler in the best position the following season.
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