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1\/20<\/p>\n
Cleveland Browns Joe Flacco vs. Cincinnati Bengals, September 7, 2025<\/p>\n
CLEVELAND, Ohio \u2014 What I\u2019ve been hearing about the recent Browns trades:<\/p>\n
Joe Flacco to Bengals The Browns were not actively shopping the veteran quarterback, but they were open to offers. The team had decided it was time to play the rookie QBs, starting with Dillon Gabriel. The Browns won\u2019t say so, but they were hoping Flacco still had some of his Comeback Player of the Year magic he showed in 2023. They didn\u2019t see it.Sunday night, the Bengals called the Browns. Cincinnati had just lost 37-24 to Detroit. QB Jake Browning had thrown three TD passes and three interceptions in the game. In the four games since taking over for Joe Burrow, Browning had been intercepted eight times.Burrow is out several months after turf toe surgery. The Bengals liked how Flacco looked in the opening game vs. Cincinnati, which the Browns lost 17-16. They thought Flacco would be an upgrade over Browning. The Bengals told the Browns they planned to start Flacco.Browns GM Andrew Berry called Kevin Stefanski Sunday night to let the coach know about Cincinnati\u2019s interest in Flacco. The coach was aware of the trade before it happened, from what I heard. That said, Stefanski admitted he was \u201csurprised\u201d by the deal. The Browns worked out the framework of a deal. Flacco and a sixth round pick for a fifth round pick. But it was not finalized.The Browns called Flacco. The veteran was excited to receive another chance to start. He knew that would not happen in Cleveland \u2013 the rookie QBs were taking over. The Browns then called Cincinnati on Monday morning to finalize the deal.That set up what we will watch for the rest of the season. Gabriel will continue to start. At some point, Shedeur Sanders will get a chance. The Browns announced Sanders will be the backup QB<\/a> when the Browns play in Pittsburgh Sunday. Hear me talk: I will be speaking at the Music Box in the Flats. along with Regina Brett on October 22. This is a faith-based talk. Doors open at 5 p.m. Talk begins at 7 p.m. More information is here.<\/a><\/p>\n cleveland.com and plain dealer sports columnist. I also write a weekly Faith & You column. <\/p>\n If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement<\/a> and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and\/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"1\/20 Cleveland Browns Joe Flacco vs. Cincinnati Bengals, September 7, 2025 CLEVELAND, Ohio \u2014 What I\u2019ve been hearing…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":216871,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[35],"tags":[27919,99],"class_list":["post-216870","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-sports","tag-cleveland-browns-training-camp-2025","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/216870","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=216870"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/216870\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/216871"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=216870"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=216870"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=216870"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"Day](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/JD4672JABFFJ5H3VTKFDK4VULY.JPG\"\/)
Greg Newsome II is headed to Jacksonville. John Kuntz, cleveland.comGreg Newsome II to JacksonvilleAs some of these trades are made, keep in mind the Browns are still \u201cdigging out\u201d from the \u201cbig swing and miss\u201d of the Deshaun Watson trade. The deal hammered the salary cap and it also chewed up six draft choices between 2022-24. Here\u2019s where that comment comes from, the words of owner Jimmy Haslam earlier this year: \u201cWe took a big swing and miss with Deshaun \u2026 We thought we had the quarterback, we didn\u2019t. We gave up a lot of draft picks to get him. So we\u2019ve got to dig ourselves out of that hole. (It) was an entire organization decision. It ends with Dee and I, so hold us accountable.”The Browns traded Greg Newsome II and a sixth round pick to Jacksonville for Tyson Campbell and a seventh round pick. It was not a pure salary dump, although it helps the cap situation this season. It gets complicated when it comes to the dollars and salary cap. The big point is the Browns like Campbell as a player. He\u2019s 25 and they see him as part of their plans for next year and perhaps longer. The Browns only owe him $782,000 for the rest of 2025. In 2026, that grows to $13.2 million. In 2027, it\u2019s $15 million. The Browns can cut him after 2026 paying about $8 million. After 2027, no damage. His last season is $14.5 million in 2028. Cleveland.com\u2019s Mary Kay Cabot breaks down the money here<\/a>. Why did Jacksonville trade Campbell after giving him a four-year, $76 million deal ($53 million guaranteed) in July 2024? Browns fans should understand this: The previous front office drafted Campbell and gave him the lucrative extension. New GM James Gladstone took over in 2025 and has been turning over the roster. Gladstone and Berry also made the huge draft day deal: The Browns sent the No. 2 pick to Jacksonville for No. 5, along with second and fourth round picks. From that deal, the Browns have added Mason Graham, Quinshon Judkins and Dylan Sampson. The big part comes in 2026 \u2013 Jacksonville\u2019s first round pick. The Jags took Travis Hunter with the Browns\u2019 2025 selection. Newsome is heading into free agency. He is a starting cornerback, and they sign contracts in the $15 million to $20 million annual range. The Browns believe Campbell \u201cfits in\u201d well with their defense. Stefanki and defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz both used those words. They really do like Campbell as a player.Scheme also is a factor. Jacksonville switched defenses with more zone coverage. Campbell is better in man-to-man, which is what the Browns use. ![\"Tyson](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/746FRGLLHVHP5LUUEHJLNNXX4U.jpg\"\/)
The Browns have confidence that Tyson Campbell can be a long term starter at cornerback. APThe bottom lineThe Browns are in a rebuild. Their record is 1-4 heading into Sunday\u2019s game at Pittsburgh. But this is not a 1-15 followed by a 0-16 rebuild as was the case in 2016 and 2017. Otherwise, they would have just traded Newsome for a draft choice and not taken a player in return \u2013 especially someone such as Campbell, who is on a long-term deal.During the summer, Haslam was asked about the need to see the two rookie QBs in action: \u201cAbsolutely, absolutely, and Kevin is aware of that, knows how important quarterback is. He and Andrew talk about those things all the time.\u201dStefanski admitted he didn\u2019t expect Flacco to be traded this season. The coach knows how hard it is to deal with a rebuild possibly led by two rookie QBs. But the Browns\u2019 big picture is they want clarity on the QB situation before heading into the 2026 draft. That means Gabriel and Sanders have to play.Meanwhile, the Browns\u2019 current rookie class is impressive. Judkins looks like a big-time running back. Linebacker Carson Schwesinger has been terrific. Tight end Harold Fannin Jr. also has been impressive. Mason Graham has started and has had both good and so-so moments. I hear more trades are coming before the Nov. 4 deadline. <\/p>\n