Scoreboards around the NFL have lit up when the Cincinnati Bengals have taken the field over the last two seasons. Cincinnati has finished in the top seven in scoring each year.

That's thanks to quarterback Joe Burrow having a plethora of weapons, around him, and his draft mate, wide Tee Higgins, is one of the best of them all.

Higgins is entering a contract year seeing as he was a second-round pick in 2020. Although the Bengals have a plethora of players to make decisions on soon, Higgins is atop the list according to Pro Football Focus. 

Higgins’ 2.08 yards per route run since 2021 ranks 13th, but Jaylen Waddle at 2.15 yards per route run is the only player ahead of him who is also not the No. 1 receiving weapon on his team. With Tyler Boyd entering a contract year and Joe Mixon’s deal up in 2024, Cincinnati can find a way to keep its three-headed offensive monster if the front office stays proactive and get Higgins done early, enabling them to spread out the cash and cap hits over the next several years.-Brad Spielberger, PFF 

Higgins is the Bengals' No.2 option behind Ja'Marr Chase, but on most teams, he'd be the top dog. After 908 yards as a rookie, which included six games without Burrow who tore his ACL, Higgins has had back-to-back 1,000-yard campaigns and logged 74 receptions in each. 

When the Bengals went on their run to the Super Bowl in 2021, Higgins had 96 yards in a win against the Tennessee Titans. He followed it up with 103 yards in the AFC Championship win versus the Kansas City Chiefs and then had 100 yards and two touchdowns in the Super Bowl. 

The Bengals didn't make it back to the big game last season, but Higgins had 83 yards and a touchdown in the AFC title game rematch against the Chiefs. So he performs in the biggest moments.

Higgins stands 6'4 which makes him a matchup nightmare with his huge catch radius plus he has 4.5 speed. The attention Higgins gets is a great benefit to Chase on the outside and it gives Boyd more single coverage in the slot. Also, he's already taken rookie Andrei Iosivas under his wing which adds to his value. 

There have been trade rumors and of course talks about his possible contract extension. However, Higgins has had tunnel vision through it all.

"Right now I'm just preparing for the season," Higgins said back in March. "I'm not really worried about the contract. Obviously I want to get a deal done, but I'll let my agent handle that and, you know, right now just for me getting my body ready for next season."

All signs point to Higgins getting his extension, it's just a matter of when.

Bengals veteran is absolutely correct in defense of his teammate

He’s simply speaking facts is all.

Feature image via Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports