March 4, 2026, 10:59 p.m. ET
When the Baltimore Ravens agreed to a contract extension with veteran tight end Mark Andrews in December, fans of the Washington Commanders immediately took notice. Why? The Ravens were essentially choosing Andrews over 25-year-old Isaiah Likely. Likely was set to become a free agent at the end of the 2025 season.
We made our case for why the Commanders should pursue Likely this offseason. Others, such as ESPN’s Matt Bowen, believed that Likely made sense for Washington to replace Zach Ertz as the primary pass-catching tight end.
Free agency is almost here. No surprise, but the Ravens did not apply either franchise or transition tag on Likely, meaning he’ll test free agency next week. The Commanders still need a tight end to go with Ben Sinnott and John Bates, and Likely would be the perfect complement, as all three would offer a different skill set.
So, what would Likely think of going from catching passes from Lamar Jackson to Jayden Daniels?
Likely joined Kay Adams on Wednesday’s edition of “Up & Adams,” where she read a question about Likely playing with Daniels and the Commanders.
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“Oh, wow,” Likely responded with a huge smile.
It’s a good year to need a tight end. There are several quality options available in free agency. Likely will have multiple suitors, as his hometown New England Patriots could also be involved. Likely does have a connection to Washington. He was a high school teammate of cornerback Mike Sainristil, and the two are friends.
Likely’s career numbers may impact how much money he receives on his next team. In four NFL seasons, he has 121 receptions, 1,389 receiving yards and two touchdowns. However, that was in a part-time role. Any team that signs Likely is predicting a big breakout in 2026.