Ravens Tight End Isaiah Likely Likely to Leave Baltimore

Analyst predicts Ravens will struggle to retain young star tight end due to salary cap constraints

Feb. 19, 2026 at 1:07pm

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The Baltimore Ravens are facing difficult roster decisions this offseason, with quarterback Lamar Jackson's contract extension being the top priority. However, the future of young tight end Isaiah Likely is also in doubt, as the team has made little progress on extending his contract over the past eight months. With the Ravens already paying top dollar to star tight end Mark Andrews, it may be difficult for them to keep both players long-term, potentially leading to Likely departing in free agency.

Why it matters

Losing Likely would be a significant blow to the Ravens' offense, as he has developed strong chemistry with Jackson and offers more as a pass-catching threat than Andrews. Likely's big-play ability and potential to be a future star make him a valuable asset, so his potential departure would leave a hole in Baltimore's roster.

The details

The Ravens have been focused on Lamar Jackson's contract extension, which has taken priority over other roster moves. With the team also needing to re-sign center Tyler Linderbaum, there may not be enough salary cap space to keep both Andrews and Likely on lucrative long-term deals. The Athletic's Jeff Zrebiec reported that the Ravens have made "no progress" on extending Likely's contract over the past eight months, making it "extremely hard" for them to keep both tight ends with all their other roster needs.

  • Over the past eight months, the Ravens made no progress in their efforts to extend Likely's contract.

The players

Isaiah Likely

A young tight end for the Baltimore Ravens who has developed strong chemistry with quarterback Lamar Jackson and is seen as a potential future star at the position.

Lamar Jackson

The Ravens' star quarterback whose contract extension is the team's top priority this offseason.

Mark Andrews

The Ravens' current star tight end who is already being paid top-tier money at the position.

Tyler Linderbaum

The Ravens' three-time Pro Bowl center who is also in need of a new contract this offseason.

Jeff Zrebiec

A reporter for The Athletic who provided the update on the Ravens' lack of progress in extending Likely's contract.

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What they’re saying

“Likely is extremely close with Lamar Jackson, so it's hard to completely rule out a Baltimore return. However, over the past eight months, the Ravens made no progress in their efforts to extend Likely, and they've since paid Andrews. It would be extremely hard for them to have two guys making top-eight tight end money with all their needs elsewhere.”

— Jeff Zrebiec, Reporter

What’s next

The Ravens will need to make a decision on Likely's future in the coming months, as he is set to become a free agent. If they are unable to reach an agreement on a contract extension, Likely may end up signing with another team that can offer him a more lucrative deal.

The takeaway

The Ravens' salary cap constraints and need to prioritize other roster moves, such as Lamar Jackson's extension and re-signing Tyler Linderbaum, could unfortunately lead to the team losing young tight end Isaiah Likely, who has shown immense potential as a pass-catching threat. This would be a significant blow to Baltimore's offense and its future plans.