In the previous season, Isaiah Likely, the tight end for the Baltimore Ravens, gained national recognition for his outstanding performance while filling in for the injured Mark Andrews.
As of 2024, Likely has emerged as the top tight end for the Ravens, recording 13 receptions for 167 yards and scoring a touchdown in the first four weeks of the NFL season.
Even though most of his performance was in the Ravens’ defeat to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 1, Gordon McGuinness from Pro Football Focus has selected Likely for his first-quarter All-Pro team, and not solely because of his skills as a receiver.
“While much of the attention will be on Likely becoming the Ravens’ top receiving target at tight end, largely due to his big Week 1 performance, he earns a spot on the PFF Q1 All-Pro team for his blocking ability, as well, His skill in blocking on the move has earned him an 84.1 PFF run-blocking grade, the highest at his position this season.”
Likely’s ability as a blocker has played a major role in the Ravens boasting the league’s best rushing attack, as they are averaging a blistering 220.3 rushing yards per game.
The 24-year-old, who played his collegiate football at Coastal Carolina, was selected by Baltimore in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
He played in 16 games during his rookie campaign, catching 36 passes for 373 yards and three scores. Then, last year, Likely snared 30 balls for 411 yards and five touchdowns. The bulk of that output in 2023 came during Andrews’ absence late in the season.
