That wasn\u2019t the sole reason Flacco returned to the Bengals<\/a>, as he said he enjoyed the coaching staff and the players as well.<\/p>\n \u201cI think a lot of things play out throughout the course of an offseason, but ultimately you just remember the players on the team and the coaches and the staff and just the thoughts that you had hanging out with all these guys,\u201d Flacco said after signing his one-year, $6 million contract to return.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u201cI just enjoyed being here and felt like it was a good fit,\u201d he added. \u201cAnd I feel like I can help this team in any role possible.\u201d<\/p>\n Add all of that to the fact that he played some of the best football of his career during a six-game stint as the starter \u2013 all under the watchful eye of the Netflix cameras for the newest season of \u201cQuarterback\u201d <\/a>\u2013 while Joe Burrow recovered from toe surgery.<\/p>\n And what wasn\u2019t said but understood is that Burrow\u2019s injury history certainly increases the odds that Flacco could be pressed into action again at some point in 2026.<\/p>\n Flacco edged out the 49ers\u2019 Mac Jones and the Falcons\u2019 Tua Tagovailoa for the top spot on the list<\/a>, with Manzano writing:<\/p>\n \u201cFlacco still has plenty to offer with how well he played for the Bengals last season. Initially, it seemed Father Time was on the verge of getting Flacco in 2025, but it was obvious that he was being held back by the Browns\u2019 dreadful offense.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cFlacco is the ultimate backup because he offers hope, even amid the worst situations, including last year when the Bengals traded for him after Burrow\u2019s injury.\u201d<\/p>\n As for the rest of the backups in the AFC North, the Steelers\u2019 Mason Rudolphi is at No. 27, the Ravens\u2019 Tyler Huntley at No. 20 and the Browns\u2019 Shedeur Sanders at No. 12, although it\u2019s not out of the question he could win that job against Deshaun Watson and Dillon Gabriel.<\/p>\n Here are the top 10:<\/p>\n 10. Anthony Richardson, Colts<\/p>\n 9. Jarrett Stidham, Broncos<\/p>\n 8. Justin Fields, Chiefs<\/p>\n 7. Tyson Bagent, Bears<\/p>\n 6. Spencer Rattler, Saints<\/p>\n 5. Fernando Mendoza, Raiders <\/p>\n 4. Jameis Winston, Giants<\/p>\n 3. Tua Tagovailoa, Falcons<\/p>\n 2. Mac Jones, 49ers<\/p>\n 1. Joe Flacco, Bengals<\/p>\n \u00a0Sign Up For Our DAILY Newsletter for More Free Coverage of the Cincinnati Bengals Delivered to You Directly<\/a><\/p>\n For more on the Bengals,\u00a0subscribe to our YouTube Channel and be sure to check us out on your favorite audio platforms, including\u00a0Apple Podcasts<\/a>,\u00a0Spotify<\/a>,\u00a0iHeartRadio<\/a>, and\u00a0Amazon<\/a>. Make sure you\u00a0bookmark BengalsTalk.com\u00a0for the latest Bengals news, exclusive interviews, film breakdowns and so much more! We’re a one-stop shop for all things Cincinnati Bengals! Join the\u00a065,000+ Bengals fans who subscribe to us on YouTube.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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