The 2026 free agent class is loaded with talent. Much of that comes from the Baltimore Ravens. They have several stars and key contributors ready to hit the market following the 2025 season, and they will not be able to keep all of them. One of these weapons they are prioritizing, though, is tight end Isaiah Likely.
While Likely has not had the stats to prove he is one of the top tight ends, his impact with fewer targets is special. He is one of the most dynamic players at the position and is a matchup nightmare. 2025 is another opportunity for him to carve out a more substantial role in the Ravens’ offense, and it sounds like the team will give him every chance to do so.
“The Ravens really see him as the future of the tight end position, even if they still see Mark Andrews with a big role this year,” NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport said on The Insiders.
Andrews has been a glue guy in Baltimore for the past seven years, but with him also up for a contract extension, it sounds like Likely is the tight end of the future.
It is time to pay Isaiah Likely
Likely accumulated just 477 yards last season, but he was incredibly efficient. He only saw 58 targets but caught 42 of them and found the end zone six times. At 6-foot-4 and 247 pounds, he possesses the perfect blend of physicality and athleticism for a tight end and is a future star in the making.
The 25-year-old has been flashing greatness since he entered the league in 2022. He is an easy target for quarterback Lamar Jackson to hit and consistently hauls in contested catches. If Jackson puts the ball up for grabs, you can bet that Likely will come down with it more often than not.
Likely is the ninth-best tight end in the league entering the 2025 season, according to Pro Football Focus. The position is experiencing a youth movement. Brock Bowers, Trey McBride, and Sam LaPorta are quickly making their names known in the league. However, Likely has been one of the more underrated guys and does not get the credit he deserves.
However, all that matters is that the Ravens give him his due recognition with a contract extension. The team has Likely in their future plans and can see a star blossoming before their very eyes. He was crucial in the biggest moments in 2024, and Baltimore’s offense would struggle to find a go-to jump ball weapon if he departs in 2026. There is plenty of time to work on an extension between now and then but with so many talented players hitting the market simultaneously, it is good to see Baltimore setting their priorities straight early. Likely should be a Raven for a long time.