Joe Flacco won the Super Bowl with the Baltimore Ravens in 2013 and holds several franchise records, including most passing yards, touchdowns, and wins. After a successful career, Flacco faced unexpected challenges when he suffered an injury in 2018, leading to Lamar Jackson stepping in as the starting quarterback. Flacco's role diminished rapidly, and he was traded to the Denver Broncos, marking a pivotal change in his professional journey.
However, Flacco's time in Denver was far from triumphant. He managed to achieve a career-high completion percentage of 65.3 percent, but his overall performance was lackluster, throwing for only 1,822 yards, six touchdowns, and five interceptions over the course of the season. A neck injury cut his season short after just eight games, allowing Drew Lock to take over as the team's starting quarterback for the remainder of the year.
As the Broncos look to the future, it appears Flacco's tenure will conclude similarly to his time with the Ravens—sitting on the bench while a younger quarterback gets the opportunity to excel. With the Broncos seemingly focused on Drew Lock as their long-term solution, the financial implications of Flacco's contract restructuring could prove to be a costly mistake for the franchise.
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In a tweet from ESPN's Bill Barnwell, it was highlighted that the Broncos restructured Flacco's contract to create $13.6 million in cap space for the year. Prior to this change, the team would not have incurred any dead money if they decided to release Flacco after a single season. Now, however, they would owe him a significant sum, showcasing the potential financial burden associated with his underwhelming performance.
The Broncos converted $17 million of Flacco's salary into a bonus to save cap space last season. Unfortunately, this restructuring means that cutting Flacco could cost the team $13.6 million this offseason. In total, Flacco's time with the Broncos could culminate in a staggering $30.6 million expenditure for merely half a season of play, averaging almost $4 million per game.
As Flacco approaches his 35th birthday, his future remains uncertain. While he could potentially sign with another team, it is likely that he would only be considered for a backup role. The hope for the Broncos is that Drew Lock develops into a top-tier quarterback, making their investment in Flacco a distant memory. Regardless, the financial ramifications of paying $30.6 million for a disappointing season are hard to overlook.
| Personal Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Name | Joe Flacco |
| Date of Birth | January 16, 1985 |
| Height | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) |
| Weight | 245 lb (111 kg) |
| College | University of Delaware |
| NFL Debut | 2008 |
| Super Bowl Wins | 1 (XLVII) |
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