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Baltimore Dealing Joe Flacco To The Broncos
Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco is heading for Denver.

Baltimore has agreement in principle to trade the former Super Bowl MVP Flacco to the Broncos, ESPN's Adam Schefter first reported. Multiple outlets are now confirming the deal.

The trade cannot be processed until new NFL league year begins Wednesday, March 13. Teams are prohibited from commenting on deal or the terms surrounding it, but much like Alex Smith going to Washington to clear the decks for Patrick Mahomes in Kansas City last year, Flacco's departure was all but certain with Lamar Jackson in place as the Ravens' QB of the future.

Indeed, Ravens coach John Harbaugh announced minutes after the season ended that Jackson is the quarterback going forward.

As ESPN.com's Jamison Hensley pointed out, Flacco never lived up to the big contract he signed after winning the Super Bowl, throwing 110 touchdowns and 80 interceptions the past six seasons. His Total QBR of 53.8 since 2013 ranks 28th in the NFL. When Jackson guided Baltimore to its first AFC North title in six years, it signaled the end of the Flacco era.

Flacco can still make all the throws, but he needs a strong supporting cast around him to be consistent. "Joe can throw the football," Harbaugh noted. "He's a big, strong quarterback. If I'm a team out there, who's the best option for me? Joe is going to be on a lot of lists -- there's no doubt."

Not anymore.

When the deal is completed, it likely will be for a mid-round pick, sources told Schefter. According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Flacco will have to rework his deal with the Broncos.
Remember: New Broncos head coach Vic Fangio spent one season in Baltimore while Flacco was Ravens’ starter and knows what he will be getting. Former Broncos’ exec Gary Kubiak also was a Flacco fan, and has mentioned how much he liked the soon-to-be Broncos’ quarterback.

According to Schefter, they were strong selling points for Broncos GM John Elway.

And with that, the Case Keenum experiment ends in Denver after just one season. We'll be following up on his future -- and on the Broncos' future with Flacco -- in coming weeks.