The Ringer NFL Show What Does the Joe Flacco Trade Tell Us About the Bengals and Browns?
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Oct 8, 2025 Steven Ruiz, a Ringer NFL analyst known for his expertise in quarterback evaluation, dives deep into the implications of the Joe Flacco trade from the Browns to the Bengals. He discusses the immediate effects for both teams, including Cleveland's plans with Dylan Gabriel as starter and the Bengals' struggles with Jake Browning's turnovers. Ruiz also critiques the Browns' long-term quarterback strategy and analyzes Zach Taylor's coaching future in Cincinnati. Will Flacco turn the tide for the Bengals? Ruiz shares his predictions.
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Desperation Move For Short-Term Stability
- The Bengals traded a day-three pick swap to acquire Joe Flacco for a short-term QB change.
- The move signals desperation after Jake Browning's poor backup performance while Joe Burrow is injured.
Turnovers Made Browning Uncoachable
- Jake Browning produced too many turnover-worthy plays, making coaching around him untenable.
- Cincinnati needed a switch because turnovers made the coaches' jobs much harder without Joe Burrow.
Why Flacco Over Higher-Profile Options
- The Bengals opted for low-cost veteran Flacco rather than high-cost reclamation quarterbacks because of financial and roster constraints.
- Flacco offers a safer, lower-ceiling option focused on fewer turnovers rather than raising the offense's ceiling.