BREAKING NEWS: Joe Flacco recently declared that he would shortly be retiring due to…

NFL executive questions Joe Flacco’s pitching ability amid Browns rumors

At least one NFL executive is seriously considering whether Joe Flacco could be of any help to the Cleveland Browns as they deal with Deshaun Watson’s season-ending shoulder injury.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Phil Yates reported Sunday that the Browns are signing Flacco to their practice squad with hopes of eventually adding him to the active roster.

Mike Sand of The Athletic compared the current Flacco to Peyton Manning in 2015. By this point, Manning had retreated into his own shell and was having his worst season ever. However, that didn’t stop the Denver Broncos from winning the Super Bowl, supported by an elite defense.

Perhaps the Browns could employ a similar formula in their quest to make the playoffs. “Payton was just a big character who could get playing time, beat defenses and make a ton of catches,” an NFL executive countered with Sund. “We compare them from a mobility perspective.

They cannot be compared in terms of playing skills or leadership. And we don’t even know how well Joe can throw the ball at this point.

In 2022, Flacco appeared in five games with the New York Jets. According to Pro Football Reference, he threw for 1,051 yards, five touchdowns, three interceptions, and a career-low QBR (36.1).

NFL executives aren’t the only ones skeptical about what the 38-year-old has left in the tank. But there’s no guarantee Flacco will actually see the Cleveland site.

Dorian Thompson-Robinson went 24 of 43 for 165 yards and one interception in Sunday’s 13-10 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. More importantly, he engineered an eight-play drive that set up Dustin Hopkins for a 34-yard field goal.

The 2023 fifth-round pick may not be much better than P.J. Walker, whom he moved onto the depth chart. However, it is too early to pass any judgment. At the very least, Thompson-Robinson will get a few more starts and can continue to develop as he gains experience. From an executive standpoint, the status of Flacco’s arm may not be important to Cleveland’s future fortunes.