For years, Baltimore Ravens fans have been begging the team to utilize Isaiah Likely. The 6-foot-4 tight end is one of the most explosive players at his position. Nevertheless, for years, he hasn't been prioritized in the Ravens' offense.
Likely was sidelined for the first three games of the season with a foot injury. In his first game back, Likely wasn't targeted at all, which, coming off an injury, is understandable. Then Lamar Jackson was injured for the next three games, and unsurprisingly he didn't get much usage with Cooper Rush and Tyler Huntley. Notably, Likely recorded five receptions and 26 yards during this stretch without Jackson.
However, Jackson returned to the field against the Miami Dolphins on Thursday night, and to nobody's surprise, the offense looked much better, leading to a 28-6 win. Not only did the offense look great, but Likely had the best game of his season, posting 60 yards and three receptions. If Likely gets more involved in the offense, it would certainly boost the Ravens' upside.
Isaiah Likely could make the Ravens offense unstoppable
During Thursday's game, all three Ravens' tight ends were used. In addition to Likely's performance, Mark Andrews caught two touchdowns, and Charlie Kolar caught one. The Ravens arguably have the best tight end core in the league, and it would behoove them to take advantage of that every week.
Zay Flowers is going to be Jackson's main target on a down-to-down basis. Regardless, taking advantage of the tight ends in the red zone and especially Likely on deep plays would make the Ravens challenging to match up against. Likely caught one deep ball for 35 yards on Thursday. His blend of size, speed, and athleticism makes Likely nearly impossible to defend and dangerous after the catch.
With an explosive receiving group and a loaded running back core led by Derrick Henry, the Ravens can truly beat you in every possible way. As mentioned, though, empowering Likely could take the Ravens offense to another level. Now that Jackson is back in the mix, the Ravens have a real shot to win the AFC North, and using Likely more certainly bolsters their chances.
Likely is still just 25 and has plenty of upside. If he is utilized properly, Likely has Pro Bowl potential, something the Ravens have to take advantage of. Likely is a free agent this spring, and by all accounts, the Ravens should prioritize him in their long-term future. And that starts with getting Likely involved as they did on Thursday.