The Baltimore Ravens may not have drafted a wide receiver in this year’s NFL Draft, but they’re hoping a player like Isaiah Likely could step up and fill that void.
The fourth-round rookie made waves this spring and is already receiving rave reviews from his teammates. One such teammate is none other than quarterback Lamar Jackson who had a very complimentary comparison for Likely when speaking to the media on Thursday.
Jackson referred to Likely as a “baby Mark Andrews,” saying that he was “like a wide receiver in a tight end’s body.” That could come in handy for a Ravens team with a very unproven wide receiver corps.
The Ravens surprised many when they opted not to select a wide receiver in this year’s draft, instead adding two tight ends, Likely and Charlie Kolar. But Likely is looking to make that decision look wise.
The Ravens have high hopes for Isaiah Likely in 2022 and beyond
Likely spent four years at Coastal Carolina where he helped lead his team to be one of the best Group of 5 schools in the country. Much of that was due to his stellar play.
The 22-year-old was twice named first-team All-Sun Belt and was even named FWAA second-team All-American after an excellent senior year that saw him finish with 59 catches for 912 yards and a team-high 12 touchdowns.
The Ravens aren’t expecting him to come close to replicating that production in 2022. They aren’t asking him to be Mark Andrews, or even “baby Mark Andrews,” but that doesn’t mean he won’t still have a role.
Likely will be competing with the likes of Nick Boyle, Charlie Kolar, and Josh Oliver for snaps alongside Andrews, and given the team’s lack of wide receiver depth, those tight ends should receive plenty of opportunities.
As Jackson suggested, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Ravens split Likely out wide as a receiver from time to time. His versatility certainly increases his value.
Isaiah Likely may never be Mark Andrews, but he certainly has a good mentor to learn from.