From the Browns to the Bengals: Cincinnati Trades for Browns Quarterback to Save Their Season

The Cincinnati Bengals have been plagued by the “Bengals Blues”, losing three consecutive games, and are searching for a much-needed solution. As of October 7th, 2025, they have turned to their division rivals for a surprising intra-division trade. The Cleveland Browns sent over their veteran quarterback, Joe Flacco, to Cincinnati. This rare move sees the former Super Bowl MVP heading to a divisional rival, looking to salvage its season following an unfortunate and devastating injury to its franchise quarterback, Joe Burrow. It has been reported that the trade includes the Browns sending over Flacco as well as a future sixth-round pick to the Bengals in exchange for a fifth-round pick. For both teams, this trade represents a decision to move forward with new personnel at the most critical position on the field. Flacco’s arrival is expected to immediately inject veteran experience into a struggling Bengals offense. 

Cincinnati currently has a disappointing 2-3 record under the leadership of Jake Browning, so this move is made out of necessity. Browning has shown massive struggle in his three starts, having a 0-3 record and throwing six touchdowns against eight interceptions. The Bengals still possess one of the league’s most potent receiving corps, featuring Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, who were not being utilized to their full potential under the previous backup. By acquiring the 40-year-old veteran, the team is hoping that his experience and his ability to push the ball downfield can help revitalize the passing attack. This desperate move demonstrates the Bengals’ commitment to keeping their ambitious playoff hopes alive until Burrow’s potential return late into the season; however, the timeline for his return is only hopeful. 

It has been reported that this is the first trade between the Bengals and Browns since 1999, after the Browns’ return to the NFL. For Cleveland, this trade is a clear sign that they are moving towards fully committing to their youth movement with their quarterbacks. Flacco, after holding a 1-3 start, was recently benched for rookie Dillon Gabriel in their Week Five game against the Minnesota Vikings. The Browns also traded another veteran, Kenny Pickett, to the Raiders in the preseason. With this recent trade, the Browns are left with two rookies in their quarterback depth chart. 

However, what Cincinnati fans want to know is: Can Flacco salvage their season? The Bengals began their season with a hopeful 2-0 record, unheard of during the Zac Taylor era, but quickly plummeted to a 2-3 record and a three-game losing streak following the injury to their star quarterback. Fortunately, the Bengals are hopeful that Flacco’s veteran experience and Super Bowl pedigree will provide that much-needed mental boost to their offense. Having 18 seasons in the NFL under his belt, it is more likely than not that Flacco could be the Bengals' starting quarterback for October 12th’s matchup against the Green Bay Packers. It is now imperative that Zac Taylor and offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher swiftly simplify their game plan, focusing on quick integration to ensure Flacco can elevate the offense’s immediate functionality. For now, it is in the coaches’ hands to best integrate their newest trade to function at the highest level he can. The question remains: Is Flacco the answer to curing the “Bengals Blues?”