One week into the 2026 NFL season, the Ravens have plenty to feel good about after a dominant opener. But the decision to move on from Isaiah Likely is looking worse by the day.
Baltimore locked Mark Andrews into a three-year, $39.3 million extension last December, and that move pushed Likely and Charlie Kolar out the door. It was a debated call then. After Likely’s Week 1 performance, it looks even rougher.
On Sunday night, Likely was the centerpiece of the Giants’ passing game against the Cowboys. He finished with 8 catches for 78 yards and 2 touchdowns, announcing himself in New York with a big-time debut.
Andrews had a solid night of his own, catching 4 passes for 49 yards, but he also let an easy one slip away on a 2nd-and-goal. That miss only added to the pressure that has been building around him.
The raw numbers between the two tight ends aren’t wildly different in a vacuum. Andrews was a useful second option behind Zay Flowers, and Baltimore’s run game didn’t give him many red-zone chances. But Likely’s impact goes beyond the box score.
He’s the kind of player who can tilt a game. At 6-foot-4 and 241 pounds, he’s a rare athlete with Vice Grip-like hands and a knack for making the big catch when the moment demands it. He showed all of that in his Giants debut.
This wasn’t some one-off flash, either. Likely opened the 2024 season with 9 catches for 111 yards and a touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs before finishing that year with 477 receiving yards. Still, it’s hard to watch what he did against Dallas and not think about what Baltimore gave up.
He was especially good late, helping New York close things out with two tough third-down catches on the game-sealing drive. Those are the kinds of plays Ravens fans remember, and the kinds they now have to watch from a distance.
That clutch trait may be the biggest thing Baltimore misses. Andrews has had his share of struggles in big moments, while Likely has often looked most comfortable when the pressure rises.
In the 2024 Divisional loss to the Buffalo Bills, Andrews fumbled and dropped a two-point conversion, while Likely caught a late touchdown to keep Baltimore alive. In Week 18 last season, Likely came up with an incredible catch in the final seconds to set up a game-winning field goal attempt.
The Ravens’ offense had plenty of other names to feed, including Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry, and Zay Flowers, and Likely wanted a bigger role than Baltimore could offer. Even so, he could have been the easy No. 2 option in the passing game if Eric DeCosta had chosen to keep him instead of Andrews.
Now Andrews has to justify the deal, too. This is not just about the comparison with Likely; it’s about the money. His $13 million salary ranks seventh among tight ends, and after posting just 422 receiving yards in 2025, he’s coming off the worst season of his career.
If Andrews is going to prove he’s worth that kind of investment, this has to be the year he answers back and re-establishes himself as a real threat for Jackson.
In Other News...
Ravens Fans Got The Zay Flowers Update They Needed
Zay Flowers Week 1 exit with a hamstring issue was enough to make Ravens fans hold their breath, but the early read on the injury is encouraging. The second-year receiver came up hurt against the Indianapolis Colts, and Baltimore kept him out the rest of the way with the game well in hand.
Head coach Jesse Minter offered the update ahead of Week 2 against the New Orleans Saints, and the important part for Baltimore is that Flowers is simply day-to-day. It leaves the Ravens monitoring one of their top playmakers, but not dealing with what sounds like a major setback heading into a matchup that will matter a lot more than a lopsided opener. [Read more 🡒]
Chris Moore Just Made The Ravens Roster Decision A Lot Harder
Chris Moore gave the Ravens a reminder of why he still matters in a big way in Week 1 against the Colts, handling the primary kick return role and turning it into a productive afternoon. He brought back four kicks for 121 yards and also chipped in a 53-yard reception, finishing with 174 all-purpose yards in a game that put his versatility back in the spotlight.
Jesse Minter was complimentary of Moore afterward, and the timing could hardly be better for a player trying to force his way onto the 53-man roster. With Baltimore also dealing with an injury at wide receiver, Moores special teams value and his ability to contribute on offense have made this a much tougher roster call than it looked a week ago. [Read more 🡒]
Ravens Face An Early Test Fans Have Seen Go Wrong Before
The Ravens got the start they wanted in Week 1, handling the Colts and opening the season with a win that should have settled some nerves around the building. Now comes the part of September that usually tells Baltimore a little more about itself, with a trip through the kind of game it is expected to win, but only if it stays sharp enough to do so. Kyle Hamilton and others have already pointed the conversation toward New Orleans, where the emphasis has been less on momentum and more on staying locked in.
That approach makes sense because the Saints did not look like a soft landing in their Week 1 loss to the Lions. New Orleans moved the ball well enough to remind opponents that an opening-week defeat does not always mean an easy follow-up, and that is the sort of early-season wrinkle the Ravens have learned not to brush aside. Baltimore is favored, but this is the kind of matchup fans have seen wobble before, which is why the focus inside the locker room has been on the job ahead rather than the record next to the opponent's name. [Read more 🡒]