The Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals on Oct. 7 executed a rare in-division trade that sends Browns’ veteran quarterback Joe Flacco and a 2026 sixth-round draft pick to Cincinnati for a 2026 fifth-round pick.
The move helps shore up Cincy’s quarterback room, which is dealing with a toe injury to Joe Burrow that has put him on injured reserve. The franchise player could miss the rest of the 2025 season. The Browns demoted Flacco to second string last week, instead starting rookie Dillon Gabriel, and the latter impressed with two touchdowns and no turnovers in his first start.
Flacco had started the first four games for Cleveland but struggled throughout. He never recorded more touchdowns than interceptions in any of the games and had two touchdowns versus six interceptions when benched. Of 33 qualified starting quarterbacks, Flacco’s 58.1 completion percentage ranks 32nd, and his 60.1 passer rating is dead last.
