The Baltimore Ravens have a history of strong tight end play, and their most recent 1-2 punch incarnation could be the most effective the team has ever had. Mark Andrews remains at the top of his game, and Isaiah Likely is starting to come into his own.
Even as Andrews has struggled to stay healthy, his peak still puts him among the best in the game. With Likely starting to learn even more positions on offense, the breakout year that puts the rest of the league on notice may be coming for the Coastal Carolina product.
The two have been so impressive that offensive coordinator Todd Monken, known for his vertical passing game and history of producing gaudy wide receiver numbers, may retool his offense to incorporate more two tight end sets. With two starting-caliber players, that move would have the backing of many analysts out there.
CBS Sports ranked the 20 best tight ends in the league, and the Ravens were the only team on the list who were able to put two players on that list. Likely snuck in at No. 19 overall, while Andrews was ranked third behind Kansas City's Travis Kelce and San Francisco's George Kittle.
Isaiah Likely is learning every receiving spot in the Ravens' offense. 👀
— Ryan Mink (@ryanmink) June 24, 2024
"It's being a chess piece – whether it's in the slot, in-line, in the backfield, split out wide. The more you know, the more you can stay on the field."https://t.co/CR9OnnnQkv
Ravens' Mark Andrews, Isaiah Likely ranked as top-20 tight ends
Andrews' skill has been proven time and time again, as he is poised to possibly set the Ravens career records for catches and receiving yards. Not bad for a player that managed to fall in the draft because scouts had concerns about his profile in the pros.
Likely may be the best No. 2 tight end in the league, as he put up starter-level production when called upon. His 17-game pace would have helped him pile up just under 1,000 yards and 14 touchdowns if extrapolated out to a full season, which shows how drastically he has improved.
It remains to be seen how long this tandem can actually stay together. Andrews will be in the final year of his contract in 2025, Likely is going to want a new contract at some point in the near future, and the Ravens will need to work around other big extensions currently on their payroll.
While this group might not be around for much longer, Baltimore is fully committing to these two serving as the focal point of the passing game next season. Andrews and Likely are both high-end receivers, which should make life easy for Lamar Jackson as he chases a title.