Flacco Free Agency Could Shift Joe Burrow Backup Plans and Depth
Joe Flacco is set to hit free agency after stepping in for the Cincinnati Bengals, a development that could change the team’s depth chart and the support available to joe burrow. Monday at 11: 00 a. m. ET, the Bengals and the league will learn whether Flacco pursues a starting role or considers returning as Cincinnati’s high-profile backup.
Joe Burrow’s Backup Depth Hinges on Joe Flacco’s Free Agency Choice
The Bengals enter an offseason that will be defense-focused, but the backup quarterback spot emerged as a sneaky need after Jake Browning’s shaky 2025 showing. When Joe Flacco took over last fall, the team’s on-field results changed enough that his availability now matters for joe burrow’s short-term depth. Cincinnati has cap space but plans to prioritize defensive reinforcements while weighing whether to keep Flacco as insurance.
Tom Pelissero Says Flacco Wants a Chance to Compete for a Starting Job
Tom Pelissero reported that Flacco wants an opportunity to at least compete for a starting job in free agency, but would consider a return to Cincinnati if he ends up as a backup. Pelissero noted this as the day before free agency begins, framing Flacco’s preference as both an opening and a complication for the Bengals’ offseason planning. The veteran quarterback made his first Pro Bowl while filling in for Cincinnati, a factor that bolsters his appeal.
Vikings, Jets and Steelers — Plus Falcons, Dolphins and Raiders — Are Listed as Potential Landing Spots
Multiple teams have been linked to Flacco as potential suitors that might offer a chance to compete for a starting role, including the Minnesota Vikings, New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers. Other clubs mentioned as logical landing spots are the Atlanta Falcons, Miami Dolphins and Las Vegas Raiders. In six starts with the Bengals last season, Flacco threw 13 touchdown passes and four interceptions while completing 61. 7% of his throws and compiling a 1-5 record in those starts, a mixed statistical profile that still generated notable interest.
Matthew Berry suggested that there may be an unexpectedly strong market for Flacco in free agency, noting that scouts and evaluators praised his tape from last year. At 41 years old, Flacco is seeking one more chance to start, and if no starting opportunity materializes he would seriously consider returning to Cincinnati as a backup behind joe burrow.
Free agency begins Monday at 11: 00 a. m. ET, when teams will formally begin signing available players and Flacco will be eligible to sign elsewhere or negotiate a return to Cincinnati.
