The Philadelphia Eagles agreed to terms on a one-year deal with free-agent quarterback Joe Flacco on Tuesday, according to multiple reports. NFL insider Adam Caplan reports that the deal includes $3.5 million guaranteed and is worth up to $4 million more in incentives.
Jalen Hurts is no longer alone in the quarterback room at the Novacare Complex.
Flacco, who just turned 36 years old in January, grew up in Audubon, New Jersey, not far from Philadelphia. He spent 11 seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, winning a Super Bowl in 2013, before spending 2019 with the Denver Broncos and 2020 with the New York Jets. He started eight games for the Broncos and four games for the Jets.
This is the Eagles’ second significant move in free agency after agreeing to terms with safety Anthony Harris a few days ago.
What does this mean for Jalen Hurts?
Does the Joe Flacco signing mean that the Eagles are definitely rolling with Hurts as their QB1 for at least the 2021 season? No, not necessarily. Does it mean Flacco was brought in to compete with Hurts for the starting job? Probably not. With the addition of Flacco, would the Eagles still be open to drafting a young quarterback early in the 2021 NFL Draft? Sure, probably.
The main point is that the Flacco signing is about adding veteran depth to a quarterback room that only included Jalen Hurts up until Tuesday afternoon. Whether the team wants to move forward with Hurts or draft their quarterback of the future with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, the Flacco signing makes sense.
If the Eagles don’t draft a quarterback early in the draft, Hurts will likely start, while Flacco will be a mentor and veteran backup with upside. Flacco didn’t exactly thrive with the Jets when he was forced into action last season, but he showed that he has plenty left in the tank while playing with an awful supporting cast.
This signing definitely points to the Eagles preferring to roll with Hurts in 2021, but nothing is definite right now. If they fall in love with one of the top quarterback prospects in the upcoming draft, they will certainly be open to exploring that option.
We’ll know more in a month.
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Mike Maher is the editor and publisher of The Birds Blitz and Juiced Ball Era. Follow him on Twitter @mikeMaher and @TheBirdsBlitz and check out his archive for all of his latest stories about the Eagles and the NFL.
Image Credit: “Joe Flacco Facing the Pass Rush” by Au Kirk is licensed under CC BY 2.0
