The Baltimore Ravens’ offense is going to feel different without Isaiah Likely in 2026. While the Ravens never saw him breakout, fans could trust him to be that big-play threat for Lamar Jackson to lean on. He was a contested catch nightmare, and now, Baltimore is working feverishly to find his replacement.
After drafting two tight ends in the 2026 NFL Draft, you’d think that the Likely replacement would come via Josh Cuevas or Matthew Hibner. However, the new Likely-style weapon could actually be one of the wide receivers that Baltimore selected. The wide receiver in question? Elijah Sarratt.
Sarratt has been trying his shot as a big slot, which Likely once filled in Charm City. After starring on the outside throughout his college career, it’s taken some adjusting, but on an episode of The Lounge Podcast, he offered exciting remarks about the transition.
“So far, [I love playing in the slot],” Sarratt said. “You get a lot of space to work. I have a great feel for the game…so all those option routes, choice routes, finding zones, I feel like I can make a lot of money doing that. Naturally, I’m going to always have my skill set outside because that’s what I’m used to, but being able to go into the slot and get different matchups on safeties and linebackers, I love that.”
Baltimore Ravens’ Isaiah Likely replacement may now be an open secret
When Elijah Sarratt was sitting there for Baltimore to take in the fourth round, they moved immediately to make him a Raven. Take it from Eric DeCosta’s mouth. He was “clearly” the best player on their board when it was their turn to pick. With that in mind, he could be in for a major role.
Of course, it may not be in year one for Sarratt. When you’re a day three selection, it’s hard to even get on the field consistently. Head coach Jesse Minter has made it known that at least one of the rookie wideouts between Sarratt and Ja’Kobi Lane should be in line for a significant workload in their rookie years, though. With the big slot spot newly opened after Likely’s departure, Sarratt is holding a pretty lucky hand. And it might be a royal flush.
As the Ravens head into training camp, the stage will be Sarratt’s to prove he can fill the Likely void. It’ll be a time he can fully embrace the physicality that separates him from the competition, and he certainly has the play style to make the Likely loss feel tame.
While Likely showcased the catch radius to simply out-reach any defender draped over him, Sarratt does much of the same. His nickname in college was “Waffle House” because he was always open, and he wasted no time living up to that name at minicamp. Sure, Likely seems cleared for take off with the New York Giants, but Sarratt has the traits to help the team and fans to forget about him.
The size, strength, hands, leaping ability…anything you want in your go-to contested catch guy, Sarratt has. He has the opportunity to blossom into the Likely role early on. If he can maximize that opportunity, he could be the apple of Minter’s eye in Baltimore’s rookie wide receiver race and become one of Lamar Jackson’s favorite targets.
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