Joe Flacco Traded to Bengals from Browns After Benching for Dillon Gabriel

One day after head coach Zac Taylor left the door open to possibly making a change at quarterback amid Jake Browning's struggles, the Cincinnati Bengals are acquiring Joe Flacco.

The Cleveland Browns announced on Tuesday they are sending Flacco and a 2026 sixth-round draft pick to Cincinnati in exchange for a 2026 fifth-round pick.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero first reported the deal.

Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Bengals are hopeful that Flacco will be able to start on Sunday against the Green Bay Packers. Schefter also noted the deal makes history as the first trade between the two teams:

Flacco has already game-planned for Green Bay's defense, having helped the Browns pull off a 13-10 upset against the Packers in Week 3. He will have to get quickly acclimated to his new teammates and system, with the Bengals set to begin practices for this week starting on Wednesday.

The Bengals were hoping that Browning would be able to keep their offense afloat as they waited for Joe Burrow to return at some point late in the season after having surgery to repair a turf toe injury.

Things have not panned out so far, with the Bengals holding an 0-3 record in games started by Browning. He has thrown for 757 yards, six touchdowns and eight interceptions in four games.

Browning's interception rate of 6.5 percent is the highest in the NFL. His eight interceptions are the second-most in the league, trailing only Geno Smith with nine.

In the aftermath of Cincinnati's 37-24 loss to the Detroit Lions in Week 5, Taylor was noncommittal when asked if Browning would remain the starter going forward.

"We'll see where it goes," Taylor said on Monday. "Like all personnel decisions, we've got to evaluate it. Jake's been very accountable for how the game went for him. I've got to be accountable for how the game went for me, as well. So we'll continue to progress here through the days."

The only other active quarterback on the Bengals roster prior to Tuesday's trade was Brett Rypien.

Flacco began this season as the starter in Cleveland after signing a one-year deal in the offseason. He threw for 815 yards, two touchdowns and six interceptions in four games before being benched for Dillon Gabriel after a 1-3 start.

Not only does trading Flacco ensure the Browns are committed to Gabriel as their starting quarterback for the time being, but Shedeur Sanders will likely be elevated on the depth chart after serving as the emergency No. 3 option for the first five games.

Adding Flacco doesn't dramatically alter the outlook in Cincinnati, but he at least gives the coaching staff another option to go with given how much Browning was struggling.

Flacco will be joining the Bengals this week as they prepare to take on the Packers at Lambeau Field on Sunday. They have lost three straight games since a 2-0 start.