Originally drafted in the fourth round out of Coastal Carolina back in 2022, Likely has gotten better with each passing season in Purple and Black, capping things off with a Junior season headlined by 42 catches for 477 yards and six touchdowns, all of which marked new career highs.

Discussing where Likely fits into the tight end landscape in 2025 on NFL Live, ESPN’s Field Yates placed the fourth-year Raven among the very best players in the NFL at his position, right up there with Andrews.

“I think there’s a chance that we’re talking about Isaiah likely is one of the eight or ten best tight ends in football in the next couple of years. He’s got all the talent in the world, but the Ravens don’t throw the football as much as other offenses do. And of course, Mark Andrews is still there,” Yates explained.

“I think at some point we see that segue and Isaiah likely becomes a part of an offense that defensive coordinators begin the week and they say, we have to find a way to slow down Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson. But Isaiah likely is not that far down the pecking order of responsibilities.”