​The Baltimore Ravens faced a tight end problem that many teams would envy, a surplus of talent pressed into a single position and a budget that simply wouldn’t stretch enough to keep everyone happy. With three tight ends who could feasibly start for most NFL clubs—Mark Andrews, Isaiah Likely, and Charlie Kolar—the Ravens were forced to decide who would become their focal point. It looked as if Likely would land the lucrative deal, but after a string of nagging injuries and a few questionable on-field judgments, Andrews ended up securing the big contract. During the regular season, he signed a three-year, $39.2 million extension that reinforced his role as the team’s tight end of record.
Now, with Likely heading to the New York Giants and Kolar moving on to the Los Angeles Chargers in free agency, Baltimore has essentially placed all faith in Andrews’s hands. That could prove risky. ESPN’s annual position rankings placed Andrews at No. 9, a sharp drop from 2025, when he ranked No. 6. Brock Bowers of the Las Vegas Raiders claimed the top spot for the second straight year. “Andrews limped into the top 10 after a down year in 2025,” ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler noted on July 10. “But he has been a staple on this list for several years. His 422 receiving yards represented a career low. Quarterback Lamar Jackson missed four games, and the passing game struggled to find its rhythm last season. Andrews still posted 1.3 receptions over expectation, as tracked by NFL Next Gen Stats … the Ravens remain confident he has good football left in him, which was reflected by the three-year, $39.2 million extension he signed last year. Baltimore let two tight ends—Likely and Charlie Kolar—walk in free agency.”
Many observers find it hard to understand why the Ravens favored Andrews over Likely, given Likely’s youth, athleticism, and potential. Likely inked a three-year, $40 million contract with the Giants, with a ceiling that could push it to $47.5 million, reuniting him with former Ravens head coach John Harbaugh. “BREAKING: The Giants are signing former Ravens TE Isaiah Likely to a 3-year, $40M contract with upside to $47.5M, per multiple sources,” NFL insider Jordan Schultz posted on his official X account. “The deal makes Likely the third-highest paid TE in the NFL, and pairs him with Jaxson Dart and Malik Nabers as a dangerous offense in NYC.” Harbaugh’s departure from the Ravens to join the Giants followed Baltimore’s shift in 2025, when expectations of a Super Bowl run gave way to an 8-9 finish and a missed postseason.
Likely’s payday comes as a surprise when you review the numbers from 2025. He totaled just 27 receptions for 307 yards and one touchdown that season. Still, 6-foot-4, 245 pounds, Likely emerged as a tantalizing prospect whose time in Baltimore seemed primed to redefine the franchise’s tight end map. The 2025 season was framed as the moment to truly unlock Likely’s potential and pivot away from Andrews toward a new era at the position. Instead, the Ravens chose to retain Andrews and let Likely depart, a decision that has drawn considerable scrutiny.
The craft of roster construction often hinges on balancing talent, cost, and fit. In Baltimore’s case, the gamble was that Andrews would continue to produce at a high level even as young talent moved on. The outcome, at least in the short term, suggests the club valued proven production and a reliable target for Lamar Jackson over potentially explosive upside from a younger, less proven option. As free agency progresses and other teams snap up remaining playmakers, the Ravens’ reliance on Andrews will be tested. If he returns to form and steadies the passing game, Baltimore could still weather the loss of Likely and Kolar. If not, the Ravens may find themselves revisiting the very dilemma that sparked this offseason reshuffle: how to maximize tight end productivity without overspending on a position where the market has begun to bend toward younger, less proven names with higher ceilings.