3 Bengals stars who will benefit from Joe Flacco trade

The Cincinnati Bengals aren't giving up on their season quite yet. 

After three straight losses in the absence of starting QB Joe Burrow, the Bengals have traded for veteran Joe Flacco. 

Flacco, 40, is expected to step into an offense loaded with weapons and get the ball to those players, something that current starter Jake Browning has been unable to do. 

So who will benefit most from Flacco's arrival? There's three key players who could see their numbers rise playing with the Super Bowl champ.

Tee Higgins 

That has to be a typo, right? Why would Higgins benefit more than All-Pro Ja'Marr Chase? 

The truth is that Chase is a generational talent. Anyone who can throw five yards should be able to get Chase the ball and let him go to work. He proved that last week with 6 catches for 110 yards and 2 TD's against the Lions with Browning under center. 

Higgins on the other hand, is very dependent on a quarterback who can deliver a timely jump ball for the big wide receiver to haul in. Higgins has just 7 receptions for 69 yards in his last three games, in part because his skill set doesn't fit with Browning. 

Flacco, even at an older age, has the ability to sling the ball along the sideline so the 6-foot-4 Higgins can take advantage of his matchups. Look for Flacco to elevate the WR2 in Cincinnati. 

Ja'Marr Chase

Of course Ja'Marr Chase will also benefit greatly from this move. In the first two weeks with Browning at QB, Chase had 10 receptions for 73 yards. He was even caught in a tense argument with head coach Zac Taylor on the sideline against the Broncos.

If nothing else, Flacco is a more aggressive, confident quarterback than Browning. Flacco, who threw for 290 yards in the season opener against Cincinnati, will not hesitate to look at Chase first. 

Rather than the All-Pro wideout having to catch short passes and rely on his yards after catch, he can run intermediate and deep routes trusting Flacco to target him downfield. 

— Adam Samuels (@SamuelAdams_12) October 5, 2025

For a player who claims he's "always open" Flacco's arrival is a godsend for Chase. 

Chase Brown

Perhaps the player who has struggled the most this season, Chase Brown could benefit from a more efficient passing attack.

After breaking out last season, Brown was expected to be one of the best backs in the league. Instead he's put up an abysmal 65 carries for 160 yards, 2.5 yards per carry. He hasn't scored since Week 1. 

With Browning under center, teams have stacked the box against Brown and forced the Bengals to pass more. When their passing attack is inefficient, opposing teams will take big leads and divert the game script from Cincinnati's rushing attack. 

Brown has essentially become a checkdown merchant who doesn't get enough opportunities to break off big gains. If Flacco can connect with Higgins and Chase, it will force opposing defenses to lighten the box and prepare for a balanced offense. Brown would benefit from those looks. 

There still could be some time before Flacco can take over the offense. He'll need to familiarize himself with the playbook and develop a rhythm in Cincinnati. But if he can get into a groove and take over the starting job, these three stars could shine much brighter for a Bengals team that needs a turnaround. 

MORE: Browns make key Dillon Gabriel decision by trading Joe Flacco to Bengals