On the morning of Friday, April 11th, Browns fans woke up to what many would consider exciting news. After a year’s hiatus, the Cleveland Browns brought back veteran quarterback Joe Flacco on a one-year, four-million-dollar deal. This deal brings back a fan-favorite quarterback, who won comeback player of the year with the Browns in 2023, as well as a playoff berth in a year riddled with injuries.Fans loved Flacco’s time in Cleveland, playfully nicknamed “Flacco Feaver,”  where Joe threw for 1,616 yards and 13 touchdowns in just 5 games. While fans are excited, and righfully so, one must ask what does this mean for the outlook of the Cleveland Browns moving forward?

For what the Browns are going to do in the 2025 NFL draft, the Flacco signing starts to paint the picture of what the Browns are thinking. Travis Hunter has been the most rummored name for the Browns to take with the second pick of the 2025 draft, with this move, I expect that to be the pick. While Bringing in Flacco does not solidify the quarterback positon for even the entirety of the 2025 season, it does give the Browns front office more confidence to use there second overall pick on a non-quarterback as they no longer have toworry that whatever rookie quarterback the end up taking will need to start week one.

Speaking of rookie quarterback, I predict the Browns to still take one early, whether that be with the 33rd overall pick, or with a trade up back into the first round. Flacco, who had success in Stefanski’s offense is the perfect mentor and bridge to take on one of the many young project quarterbacks in this draft. Rumors of Browns interest in Jalen Milroe have heatened up recently, while rumors of Shedeur Sanders to the Browns have cooled. While personally I am still in favor of Sanders, taking on either quarterback to learn behind a veteran like Flacco excites me, as Flacco as truly done and seen it all in the Leauge.

I know Flacco has said in the past that he does not want to be a mentor to a young quarterback. However, that was years ago and at his age of 40, being a bridge-mentor much like Jacoby Brissett was last year for the Patriots would be the perfect closing note on an alustrious career.

The fact of the matter is that this move excites Browns fans. Flacco was a bright spot for a fanbase that had to deal with the dark times of the Deshaun Watson era. Flacco made the fanbase proud to be Browns fans again, so let the fans be happy that he has returned. Will Flacco’s play on the field replicate his play the last time he dawned the orange and brown? Probably not, not for a full season, but this fan base desprately needed a reason to be proud to be a Browns fan again, and Flacco gives them that.

I for one, am all for mentor Flacco. It is much better than paying Kirk Cousins a boat load of money, especially since Kirk said he didn’t want to go to a team with a rookie and it gives the Browns the fleibility to take who they truly want at two and not have to rush a rookie onto the field. Flacco feaver is back baby, Browns fans rejoyce!