Report: Ravens agree to trade Joe Flacco to Broncos
The Baltimore Ravens have agreed to trade former Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco to the Denver Broncos, per a report by Adam Schefter.
Breaking: Baltimore has agreement in principle to trade former Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco to the Broncos, league sources told ESPN.
Trade cannot be processed until new NFL league year begins Wednesday, March 13. Teams prohibited from commenting on deal or terms surrounding it.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 13, 2019
The trade won’t be processed for another month as the NFL league year begins March 13. Teams are not allowed to comment on a deal or the terms surrounding it, per Schefter. He reported when completed, the Ravens will likely get a mid-round pick.
Flacco lost the starting job in Baltimore to Lamar Jackson, the 32nd pick in last year’s draft. Denver had Case Keenum under center in 2018.
Ravens all-in on Jackson
Jackson got his first start in Week 11 and led the Ravens to a 6-1 record down the stretch, finishing 10-6 in the regular season with an AFC North title. They lost, 23-17, to the Los Angeles Chargers in the playoffs.
The former Heisman Trophy winner threw for 1,201 yards on 99 attempts for six touchdowns and three interceptions.
It left Flacco on the bench and talk of Jackson taking the reins for a team in a division made tougher by the Cleveland Browns’ solid year.
Per Schefter, the deal will save the Ravens $10.5 million in cap space. Head coach John Harbaugh seemed to make clear after the Ravens’ playoff loss that the team was going with Jackson and there would “be a market” for Flacco.
Broncos trying to find answers
Keenum signed during last offseason and General Manager John Elway called it a “short-term fix” as the Broncos (6-10) try to find their way back in the AFC West.
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Flacco, 34, won the Super Bowl MVP after the 2012 season, when he threw for 3,817 yards with 22 touchdowns. But he hasn’t shown “elite” of late. In his last four seasons as starter he went 24-27 after a 72-40 mark in his first seven.
Schefter reported the Broncos were quick to move on Flacco with so many other quarterbacks expected to switch teams and fellow teams in need. Per the report:
The demand at the position is one reason Denver pounced out of the gate on Flacco. The Broncos began to study him during Super Bowl week, sources told ESPN, and agreed to a deal before the combine.
They began talks Monday and finalized Wednesday.
New Broncos HC Vic Fangio spent one season in Baltimore while Joe Flacco was Ravens’ QB and knows what he will be getting. Former Broncos’ exec Gary Kubiak also was a Flacco fan, and has mentioned how much he liked the soon-to-be Broncos’ quarterback. They were strong selling pts
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 13, 2019
The Broncos will pick up Flacco’s $18.5 million base salary for next season.
Keenum takes back seat
Per a report by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Flacco will take the starting job and the Broncos will look for a spot to offload Keenum.
The #Broncos will now shop QB Case Keenum, who is guaranteed $7M in 2019, I’m told. If they can’t, it’s either a massive paycut or a straight up release. He’d be a top backup.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 13, 2019
Keenum, 30, signed a two-year, $36 million deal before the 2018 season. He completed 365 of 586 passes for 3,890 yards with 18 touchdowns and 15 interceptions.
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