After a Week 5 loss to the Lions, their third straight lopsided defeat under backup signal-caller Jake Browning, the Bengals aggressively began looking for a unique Joe Burrow fill-in. Led by director of player personnel Duke Tobin, the Bengals put together an intensive list of potential upgrades over Browning, Albert Breer of SI.com details.
Before swinging a trade with the division-rival Browns for Joe Flacco, the Bengals considered Anthony Richardson (Colts); Kirk Cousins (Falcons); the Giants’ backup duo of Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston; the Rams’ Jimmy Garoppolo and Stetson Bennett; Tanner McKee (Eagles); and Josh Johnson (Commanders). They joined the previously reported Derek Carr (Saints), Sam Howell (Eagles), Drew Lock (Seahawks), and Davis Mills (Texans) in Cincinnati’s exhaustive search.
The Bengals narrowed the list all the way down to five before selecting Flacco as one of the best option, in line with Breer. It’s unclear who joined the 40-year-old within the group of finalists or whether the Bengals even made calls on all of those QBs.
Ultimately, Flacco won out in consequence of a number of aspects. Flacco is inexpensive ($1.26MM base salary) and only cost a fifth-round pick. The well-traveled Super Bowl XLVII MVP also has loads of AFC North experience, and coordinator Dan Pitcher identified him as a transparent fit based on similarities between Cincinnati’s offense and Cleveland’s when it comes to “spacing the sphere and progressing pass concepts,” Breer writes.
Two weeks into what will likely be a short-lived run because the Bengals’ starter, Flacco has looked like a shrewd acquisition. The Bengals lost his first begin to the Packers, but they bounced back with an upset over the division-rival Steelers on Thursday.
Flacco outdueled fellow 40-something Aaron Rodgers in Week 7, going 31 for 47 for 342 yards and three touchdowns in a 33-31 thriller. He made superstar wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase the focus of the offense, targeting him on a jaw-dropping 23 throws and hitting him 16 times for 161 yards and a rating. Chase has already hauled in 26 passes and two of Flacco’s five TDs as a Bengal. Flacco has yet to throw a pick with the team after tossing six in 4 games with the Browns.
The goal in acquiring Flacco was to loaf around long enough to make a possible Burrow return worthwhile in 2025. Burrow, who underwent toe surgery on Sept. 19, is predicted to miss no less than three months. Meaning the Bengals may have to remain within the race into December under Flacco. At 3-4, they trail the division-leading Steelers (4-2) and sit in ninth place within the AFC. While the Bengals are still facing an uphill climb, Flacco has no less than given them a more credible option than Browning under center.