Did the Baltimore Ravens just gift TE Isiah Likely to New England Patriots?

Jarrett Bailey

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Did the Baltimore Ravens just gift TE Isiah Likely to New England Patriots? image

The Baltimore Ravens are in a fight for their playoff lives. At 6-6, they have little room for error the rest of the way, and they will take on the Pittsburgh Steelers in a battle for first place in the AFC North on Sunday, with the loser's playoff hopes looking all but gone.

Baltimore made a surprising decision in the midst of this playoff push, though, that has large implications on their future. They signed veteran tight end Mark Andrews to a three-year extension, per Adm Schefter of ESPN.

"Ravens and TE Mark Andrews reached agreement on a three-year, $39.3 million extension that includes $26 million guaranteed," Schefter reports. "The Ravens announced the agreement they reached with Andrews’ agent, Justin Schulman."

This comes as a shock, considering that Andrews has been labeled a trade candidate for the better part of a year, and it was heavily anticipated that he would be shipped elsewhere ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft. Now, he is remaining in Baltimore seemingly for the remainder of his career,

With the extension comes another important question - what happens to Isaiah Likely?

The Coast Carolina product has shown that he has all the makings of a great tight end, and that he was next in line to be the new No. 1 guy once Andrews left. Considering Andrews' extension, along with Likely being a free agent in 2026, it feels (no pun intended) very likely that he is in his final months as a Raven. And considering where he is from, the Ravens may have just sent him into the waiting arms of another AFC power.

Likely went to high school in Massachusetts, and it just so happens that the Patriots could use another proven playmaker for Drake Maye to distribute the ball to. Hunter Henry is still a solid tight end, but Likely can be used both as a big slot receiver, as well as a traditional in-line tight end. 

Should New England have interest, which they almost certainly will, Likely could head back to his home state and don the navy and red of the Patriots.

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Editorial Team