Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely is one of the top impending free agents at his position. Selected in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft, the Coastal Carolina product made a name for himself as the league’s most explosive backup tight end. While veteran Mark Andrews never relinquished the starting job, Likely played well when Andrews missed time to injury and could thrive in a full-time role.
The 2025 season wasn’t Likely’s best, but that probably won’t stop teams from spending big in free agency. The tight end recently spoke about what he’s looking for in his next team during an appearance on the Gruden Goes Long podcast, and it sounds like Isaiah Likely won’t return to the Ravens.
“With my agent, what I told him was I just want to be able to blossom,” Likely said. “The last couple years, I’ve had a great vet in Mark Andrews, where he taught me everything to be a star-caliber tight end to the point where it’s like now I just want to be on a team where I can get out there and help a quarterback, help a team be able to put as much points on the board as possible.”
Isaiah Likely Sounds Unlikely to Return to Ravens
Reading between the lines, it appears as though Isaiah Likely is looking for something the Ravens cannot offer: a full-time starting role. The team extended Mark Andrews just before the end of the 2025 season, ensuring he’ll remain atop the depth chart for years to come.
Chances are, Isaiah Likely will leave the Ravens for a better opportunity if one presents itself. While he showed plenty of promise in his first three seasons, last year left something to be desired. The tight end finished with just 27 receptions for 307 yards, one touchdown, and a 56.4 PFF grade, and Baltimore’s decision to extend Andrews instead of Likely suggests the team believes this poor campaign wasn’t a one-year fluke.
Main Photo: Peter Casey – Imagn Images