Potential New England Patriots free agent target and current Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely spoke on his 2026 goals in a recent podcast interview. He elaborated on these goals earlier this week.
Likely is coming off a season that saw him record 27 catches for 307 yards and a touchdown last season. He averaged 11.4 yards per reception on the year, and continued solid production for the Ravens.
Likely has carved out a solid role with the Ravens, serving as the second tight end to Mark Andrews. He has 135 receptions for 1,568 yards and 15 touchdowns in 63 games over the course of four seasons. His best years statistically came in 2023. He had 30 catches for 411 yards and five touchdowns in 17 games.
Now, he has a vision for 2026, as he told Jon Gruden on the “Gruden Goes Long” podcast.
“I just wanna be able to blossom… I just wanna be on a team where I could just get out there and help a quarterback, help a team, be able to put as much points on the board as possible.”
Likely has history in New England Patriots backyard
Likely has a bit of history and New England, but not in the way you would expect. He was born and raised in Cambridge, Mass., and was a standout player at the high school level. He attended Malden High School for transferring to Everett High School for his senior year. This was where he was able to show off his unique skill set and ability. He recorded 59 receptions for 917 yards and 11 touchdowns as a junior.
His success also helped Everett have success on the gridiron as well. His Everett team won 119 consecutive games. This led to back-to-back Massachusetts state championships. He ended up committing to Coastal Carolina for college.
Likely would be an intriguing fit for the Patriots. For one, he would be a younger option at the position. The Patriots undoubtedly need to get younger, with Austin Hooper and Hunter Henry both 31 years of age. The tight end position is one that has been talked about as a need. Patriots legend James White discussed making a move at the position earlier this week.
Secondly, he would be returning home to the place where his career started. Likely has shown his ability to be a valuable pass-catching tight end, and he could fit in well with the current group. He is not necessarily a starting-caliber player by nature, but would be a solid option for a team that is looking to put more weapons around quarterback Drake Maye.
Likely is not explicitly saying that he wants to come to New England. However, the Patriots are a team on the rise. They have a large window to make it back to the Super Bowl and have a year of postseason experience under their belts. Likely could be another strong addition to a team that needs more offensive depth and firepower. At the very least, the Patriots should kick the tires on the tight end, in an offseason that is going to be important for the continued growth of the organization. They have built a winning blueprint, and now it’s about maintaining that culture and adding players to it. A homecoming would be in order and would fit both parties well.
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