JUST-IN: Browns set to Reunite with Former Starting QB, 3rd-Round Pick

The Cleveland Browns let quarterback Joe Flacco leave town without a contract after Friday’s practice, opening the door for another free agent to fill the void left by Deshaun Watson.

Cleveland selected Colt McCoy #85 in the third round of the 2010 NFL Draft.
McCoy started 21 games for the Browns over the next two years before moving to a backup role for the 2012 campaign.
The organization traded McCoy to the San Francisco 49ers in April 2013, and he has since played in a variety of lineups , primarily as a secondary.
String options.
Now 37, McCoy will once again be a mainstay in the Browns locker room.
First as a backup to Dorian Thompson-Robinson and then as a veteran starter in future playoff impact games if the rookie doesn’t want to take the title.
. the reins.

Joe Flacco is the Browns favorite over Colt McCoy and other options.

Flacco was the only quarterback to practice in Cleveland on Friday and remains a “top target” for the team, according to Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot.
“Update: Joe Flacco left Cleveland without a contract after #Browns practice Friday, but could be their 3rd QB for the foreseeable future,” Cabot wrote to X on Friday.
“They will add a defenseman to their active roster next week.
Or the practice squad, and he’s their first target.”

When comparing each player’s career balance, Flacco is a much better option than McCoy.
He is a 99-81 NFL starter and won Super Bowl MVP following the 2012 campaign.
However, looking at the relative performance of the two QBs over the past few seasons tells a different story.
Flacco last played for the New York Jets, starting four games in 2022 and amassing a 1-3 record.
Flacco went 1-8 in three years in New York and is 3-14 overall since parting ways with the Baltimore Ravens.
The Baltimore Ravens had the best season of their career in the 2018 campaign.
McCoy is a year younger than Flacco, but was the better choice to start in 2019.
He has a 4-5 record with the Washington Commanders, New York Giants and Arizona Cardinals.
McCoy was a more accurate passer than Flacco in 2019, but despite catching fewer attempts, Flacco holds a significant advantage in touchdown-to-interception ratio.

Other NFL teams have shown interest in Colt McCoy this offseason.

The Minnesota Vikings held workouts for McCoy in October after backup QB Nick Mullens suffered a back injury, but ultimately failed to sign him.
Minnesota traded with the Cardinals for Josh Dobbs, who filled McCoy’s role as Arizona’s backup to the injured Kyler Murray ahead of the 2023 campaign.

It should be noted that interest in McCoy among other NFL playoff teams gives him a roster spot when he comes to Cleveland.
But others are also worth considering.

Former regular season MVPs Matt Ryan and Cam Newton have both expressed interest in playing through 2023 and both remain free agents. John Breech of CBS Sports suggested Tom Brady as an option for Cleveland earlier this week.
That’s because the Browns boast one of the best defenses in the league and a second-tier rushing attack heading into Week 11.

Finally, the person who reaches the organization will not join the team for several days.
Thompson-Robinson and former third-string quarterback P.J. Walker will have to shoulder the load as the Browns take on the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday afternoon.