Joe Flacco should be ready to go in 2020, just not in a Broncos uniform
Feb 18, 2020, 2:30 PM
A story on ProFootballTalk.com alarmed some Broncos fans on Tuesday. It was a report that the team was confident that Joe Flacco will be healthy enough to play in 2020. Given the franchise’s reluctance to fully embrace Drew Lock as the starter for the 2020 season, this news sounded some alarm bells.
Are the Broncos considering Flacco as an option next season? Will training camp be a competition between the veteran and Lock? Is Vic Fangio more comfortable with an experienced signal caller?
The questions could go on and on, as decoding this news opened a can of worms. Reading further into the story, however, should’ve calmed some worries in Broncos Country.
“Being cleared to play and having a place to play are two very different things, however. Flacco is set to make over $20 million with a cap hit of $23.65 million, which is a prohibitive price for someone backing up Drew Lock.”
Whew.
That suggests that Flacco isn’t a part of the Broncos plans in 2020. He doesn’t yet have a place to play, including Denver. And he’s an expensive backup, which makes zero sense.
So why come out with the clean bill of health announcement? PFT offered a hint on that front too.
“Cutting Flacco would result in cap savings of $10.05 million, but eating it might wind up being their only choice as it is hard to see too many teams clamoring to trade for a player who wasn’t all that productive before getting hurt.”
In a perfect world, the Broncos would be able to find a QB-desperate team willing to take on Flacco and his contract. That would get Denver out from under the $13.6 million dead cap that will come along with cutting the veteran quarterback.
It’s an unlikely option, as Flacco struggled during his eight starts in a Broncos uniform last season. But it’s worth a shot. Denver might as well let anyone who might be interested in the former Super Bowl MVP that his neck has healed and he’s ready to go for 2020.
Breathe easy, Broncos Country. Joe Flacco won’t be a part of the team’s plans this season. Most likely.
