The Detroit Lions are going to add another tight end or two during the 2026 offseason, but how big they go remains to be seen.
We wouldn't expect anything major, though, as the Lions appear to be set atop the depth chart with Sam LaPorta and Brock Wright.
However, LaPorta is also coming off a season in which he suffered a serious back injury and there is no guarantee he'll be ready for the start of the 2026 season. That is the biggest wild-card for the Lions' offseason plans at tight end.
While we don't think that will be enough for the Lions to make a big splash at the position, AtoZ Sports' Mike Payton sees things differently.
He predicts the Lions will shell out big bucks for Baltimore Ravens pending free agent and tight end, Isaiah Likely. Payton projects a four-year, $52 million deal.
"The Lions are about run a very tight end-heavy scheme in 2026, and even if Sam LaPorta is back in time, this scheme requires having a guy who can do damage next to him. It helps that he’s a solid pass blocker and run blocker," Payton said.
Likely has shown a ton of promise as an explosive, big-play pass-catcher over four seasons and is also a solid blocker, but his ceiling has no doubt been limited in Baltimore.
Not only is he stuck behind Mark Andrews, who was recently re-signed to a new deal, but the Ravens simply didn't utilize him enough in the offense. Knowing all that, there's a good chance Baltimore lets Likely walk in free agency.
Seeing Likely operate in the Lions' offense would no doubt be fun to watch.
He would add to an already stellar group of options in Detroit's offense and guarding him would be even more difficult with defenses also having to pay attention to Detroit's endless list of weapons.
Likely also offers an insurance policy for LaPorta in the event he isn't ready for the start of the 2026 campaign, or if a setback keeps him out even longer.
That said, unless LaPorta's injury keeps him out for longer than expected we would not bet on the Lions paying that kind of money for a No. 2 tight end who may not be anything more than No. 3 or No. 4 option in the pass-catcher pecking order.
Not to mention, spending that kind of money on Likely becomes even less likely with the Lions' shaky cap space situation ($16.6 million over) and the fact that Detroit has more extensions to hand out, and others that will be kicking in soon.
Instead, we would expect the Lions to go smaller at the position and utilize their resources elsewhere.
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