Baltimore Ravens fans were sad to see promising tight end Isaiah Likely walk this offseason. Granted, after Mark Andrews' extension, the move was very much expected. Still, Likely's explosive pass-catching abilities never felt properly utilized in Baltimore, and fans are expecting him to reach another level with the New York Giants.
Likely's departure, combined with Charlie Kolar signing with the Los Angeles Chargers, left a clear void at the tight end position with Andrews aging. Eric DeCosta opted to fill this void by drafting Matthew Hibner in the fourth-round, and Josh Cuevas in the fifth-round along with signing Durham Smythe in free agency.
Fans might feel uninspired by this group around Andrews, and they all have a lot to prove. However, Cuevas has been a standout early on in OTAs, and this might pave the way for him to thrive in a Likely-esque role.
Josh Cuevas is the perfect remedy for Baltimore Ravens fans' Isaiah Likely pain to go away
To be clear, the two tight ends are a bit different, with Likely being more dynamic, especially as a contested catcher. Cuevas does offer some clear upside as a pass-catcher, and is certainly a solid athlete as well. That skill set has been on full display during OTAs thus far.
Ryan Mink of Ravens.com recently praised Cuevas' early play in OTAs. He wrote the following during his article discussing 10 early standouts of OTAs.
“[Cuevas] caught several passes in 11-on-11 drills on Monday, including a diving snag over the middle. Cuevas also had a red-zone catch in traffic during Thursday’s session. Cuevas is showing early on that he’s a versatile receiving threat beyond what he offers as a blocker.”
While at Alabama, Cuevas recorded 411 yards and four touchdowns last season. Cuevas is known for his solid route running, pass-catching, and versatility as a blocker. If Cuevas continues to impress during the offseason, he could carve out a real role come September.
Declan Doyle's offense prioritizes explosive plays and unpredictability, which could further pave the way for Cuevas to earn a role.
It's unlikely that Cuevas will become one of Lamar Jackson's top targets from the jump. Still, frequent snaps and some level of involvement in the passing game seem more than possible for the rookie. This is especially the case since the Ravens don't have a ton of proven receiving options, and they're focused on airing the ball out more.
Losing Likely was always going to hurt, given his popularity among the fan base and that he has another level to reach.
Nevertheless, if the Ravens found an adequate replacement, that would certainly lessen the pain of losing Likely. Thankfully, all early signs with Cuevas are positive, and the Ravens might very well have a hidden gem on their hands.
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