The numbers have come in for Joe Flacco’s contract.
The veteran quarterback signed a one-year deal worth $1.5 million with the Jets in May. His base salary, however, is just $1.05 million, including $550,000 in guarantees, according to ESPN’s Rich Cimini. Flacco is also getting a roster bonus of $28,125 for every game that he is active. Since Flacco is not expected to be ready for the start of the 2020 season, he won’t be getting those roster bonuses right away. However, the max he can get in roster bonuses is $450,000.
Flacco can earn up to $3 million in incentives, while his cap charge for 2020 is $1.34 million.
The Jets were in desperate need for a veteran backup quarterback who could mentor Sam Darnold and win games if Darnold were to be hurt. Over the last two seasons, the Jets have gone 0-6 in games that Darnold has missed. In fact, the Jets have been outscored by their opponents 178-68 in the six games that Darnold hasn’t played in.
Flacco has proven over his long NFL career that he can win football games. He already won a Super Bowl MVP with the Ravens back in 2012 when Baltimore defeated the 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII.
Now Flacco is going to have to embrace a new role as a backup quarterback and as Darnold’s mentor. He’s experienced a lot of football throughout his NFL journey and that should help Darnold grow as a starting quarterback.