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There is a new quarterback in the AFC West.
The Denver Broncos are trading for Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco, per a report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The deal won’t become official until March 13.
Breaking: Baltimore has agreement in principle to trade former Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco to the Broncos, league sources told ESPN.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 13, 2019
Trade cannot be processed until new NFL league year begins Wednesday, March 13. Teams prohibited from commenting on deal or terms surrounding it.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport chimed in with the compensation, a mid-round draft pick.
The #Broncos are sending a mid-round pick to the #Ravens for QB Joe Flacco, source said. Baltimore gets back solid return for a QB they replaced mid season.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 13, 2019
The trade means the Ravens are comfortable in moving forward with Lamar Jackson as their starter. That was to be expected, as Flacco was benched late in the year and Jackson started in the playoffs.
More importantly for Chiefs fans, it means that Kansas City will in all likelihood be seeing a Joe Flacco vs. Patrick Mahomes matchup twice next year. As explained by 9News’ Mike Klis (who is in the know), Case Keenum is out as Denver’s starting quarterback.
Case Keenum is out as Broncos' starting QB. Not sure if he stays as backup or is released or traded. If released he has $7 million fully guaranteed on $18 million salary in 2019. #9sports
— Mike Klis (@MikeKlis) February 13, 2019
The post-Peyton Manning era in Denver continues to be a quarterback carousel.
Broncos QB's Since SB50
— Kevin Gibson (@TSNResearch) February 13, 2019
Player G Yds TD Int Rate
Trevor Siemian 25 5686 30 24 79.9
Case Keenum 16 3890 18 15 81.2
Brock Osweiler 6 1088 5 5 72.5
Paxton Lynch 5 792 4 4 76.7
With Flacco being 34, Broncos general manager John Elway has brought in another short-term solution, so I think the Broncos could still bring in a quarterback in the draft. The Broncos have the 10th overall pick and have been reported to be interested in Missouri’s Drew Lock.
The Chiefs have to like what their seeing as they watch from afar, their franchise quarterback in Patrick Mahomes coming off an MVP season is his first year as starter while Denver struggles to make anything work at the game’s most important position year after year.
Kansas City reactions
The new Broncos are the old Chiefs. https://t.co/KXH7qLzZAK
— Sam Mellinger (@mellinger) February 13, 2019
Elway is desperate for anyone. Flacco isn't a long term answer anymore than Case Keenum was last year. https://t.co/hkdwP0d1Zi
— Stephen Serda (@StephenSerda) February 13, 2019
Matt House to KC and Joe Flacco to DEN in the span of about 24 hours.
— Craig Stout (@barleyhop) February 13, 2019
I might have to take up smoking again, because I need a cigarette.
The Joe Flacco trade reminds me of the story that John Elway passed on buying a 10% stake in the Broncos for $15 milllion (now would be worth $265 million) and instead invested $15 million in what turned out to be a Ponzi scheme.
— Matt Derrick (@mattderrick) February 13, 2019
Items of note
The Broncos still owe Keenum $6.5 million guaranteed. The Ravens have $16 million dead money in Flacco. Tannehill and Bortles are next up to get dumped but still hurt their team in 2019.
— Gregg Rosenthal (@greggrosenthal) February 13, 2019
*The Ravens will actually save $10.5 million in cap space, per Schefter.
If The trade for Joe Flacco isn’t processed until after June 1st the #Ravens will clear $18.5M of 2019 cap space, but must carry his entire $26.5M cap hit until 6/1.
— Spotrac (@spotrac) February 13, 2019
I always forget the dead money in these trades -- it's actually $28.5M in the QB position in 2019 between the two with a Keenum cut.
— Craig Stout (@barleyhop) February 13, 2019
That would be the fourth highest QB cap hit in 2019. And Flacco is the starter. Yikes.