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Report: Former Ravens QB Joe Flacco to visit Philadelphia Eagles

By Bijan Todd

Report: Joe Flacco to visit Philadelphia Eagles originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington

Joe Flacco will be visiting the Philadelphia Eagles for a potential spot as a backup quarterback, Pro Football Talk reported Monday.

Flacco’s one-year, $1.5 million deal with the New York Jets expired after the 2020 season and he has drawn interest from a number of teams thus far in free agency, including the San Francisco 49ers. Teams eyeing a cheap, veteran QB who can step into the game in a bind see Flacco as a solid backup option.

The Eagles suffered from quarterback troubles throughout the 2020 season, as Carson Wentz struggled mightily in his fifth season as a starter, throwing 16 touchdowns and 15 interceptions over 12 games. Rookie Jalen Hurts stepped in late in the season for Philadelphia, and the Eagles have pinned their hopes on the Oklahoma alum to be the starter in the upcoming season. However, Hurts is currently the only QB on Philadelphia’s roster ever since they traded Wentz to the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for two draft picks earlier this month.

Flacco could solve the backup issue the Eagles are currently facing, as they try to improve upon the division-worst 4-11 record they posted in 2020.

Flacco, who grew up near Philadelphia in New Jersey, spent the first 11 seasons of his career as the perennial starter for the Baltimore Ravens. He played the 2019 campaign in Denver and last season as a New York Jet. Stepping in due to a combination of shoulder issues and performance trouble by Sam Darnold, Flacco appeared in six games for the Jets last year, throwing for 864 yards, six touchdowns and three interceptions. Having mentored a young, high-ceiling QB in Darnold last year, the Eagles would hope Flacco could do the same for Hurts.

Ravens keep their backfield intact through 2023 with Gus Edwards extension

By Ryan Wormeli
Ravens keep backfield intact with Gus Edwards extension originally appeared on NBC Sports WashingtonThe Ravens reportedly paid one of the most underrated running backs in football Monday, extending former undrafted free agent Gus Edwards on a two-year deal worth $10 million.Baltimore had placed a second-round tender on its backup running back, highlighting both how much it values him and how committed it was to keeping him in Charm City.With presumed starter JK Dobbins entering his sophomore season, the Ravens' two-headed backfield monster is now locked in for the next three years at least. Running out of the same backfield as Lamar Jackson, both rushers have been among the most efficient in the NFL while with Baltimore.Edwards, in particular, has shined in a limited role. He has been one of the most consistent players in the league in his first three seasons, with his carries ranging from 133 to 144 and his rushing yardage totals of 718, 711 and 723. In the process, he has made NFL history.If you exclude Lamar Jackson, Nick Chubb is the only player with a better yards-per-carry than Edwards since 2018. But the bruiser isn't just a short-yardage back - though he may be the best in the league - as he tied Dobbins in 2020 with the third-most 20-yard bursts in the NFL.The Ravens have maintained one of the best offenses in the NFL by staying on schedule with their running game. No back has been better at it than Edwards, who has gained positive yardage on 89.1% of his carries since 2018, which is the best mark in the league. His advanced metrics support this as well. Edwards finished seventh in the NFL in rushing DVOA in 2020, according to Football Outsiders.It has to be mentioned when discussing any Ravens running back's otherworldy efficiency that it is much easier to run the ball when defenses are worried about the threat of Jackson taking off. But Edwards (and Dobbins) are uniquely skilled at running the ball out of shotgun formations and have found a perfect match in Greg Roman's offense.It's usually not a great idea to pay running backs big money, but an average of $5 million over two years is far from a prohibitive deal for a player who will only be 29 when the deal is over.To have Edwards and Dobbins, the latter still on his rookie deal, locked up for the next three seasons all but guarantees the Ravens will remain one of the most prolific rushing attacks in football for the foreseeable future.
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