One huge question that Philadelphia Eagles GM Howie Roseman will have to answer heading into free agency is what to do at the tight end spot for 2026.
Dallas Goedert, Grant Calcaterra, and Kylen Granson are scheduled to hit free agency in the next few weeks. Eagles fans would love to see Goedert return after scoring a career-high 11 touchdowns this past season.
However, Goedert (31) is getting older, and the Eagles might want to think about getting younger at that spot either through the NFL draft or free agency. If its free agency, Isaiah Likely could be a very intriguing option for the Eagles’ offense. Likely is 25 years old and is still coming into his own as he’s been the TE2 behind Mark Andrews for last four years.
That said, the soon-to-be free agent tight end seems to be ready to take his game to the next level, which is music to the Eagles’ ears. Likely recently did a podcast interview with former NFL head coach Jon Grunden, where he talked about the free agency process and his mindset.
“I just wanna be able to blossom. I feel like the last couple years I've had a great vet in Mark Andrews. He's taught me everything to be a star-caliber tight end to the point where it's like now, I feel like I just wanna be on a team where I can get out there and help a quarterback put up as much points as possible," Likely said (h/t Bobby Trosset).
Isaiah Likely Keeps Talking His Way into Eagles’ Free Agency Plans
The Eagles could be one of the teams to give Likely that opportunity to blossom, especially if they don’t re-sign Goedert. Likely would become the No. 1 option at tight end in a new offense that will rely on creating big passing plays from that spot.
The 6-foot-4, 245-pound Likely could easily get one-on-one matchups playing in Philadelphia, as opposing defenses also have to focus on A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith at wide receiver, and Saquon Barkley in the backfield. Then you have to worry about the threat of Jalen Hurts, who can get move outside the pocket.
Over his first four years in the league, Likely is averaging 11.6 yards per reception, which is slightly higher than Goedert’s career average (11.4). Likely is so a playmaker with the ball in his hands after the catch like Goedert.
Likely has a career yards after the catch per reception average of 5.5, while Goedert’s is at 5.8.
This past season with the Ravens, Likely saw his production take a slight stepback as he only had 27 receptions (36 targets) for 307 yards and a touchdown. That said, it won’t stop many teams from putting their inquiries in for Likely’s services.
According to Spotrac, Likely’s calculated market value is a two-year, $17.6 million deal with $8.8 million AAV. The former fourth-round pick will likely get more than a two-year deal, but his next deal will likely be around the $9M mark, which begs the question if the Eagles should seriously make a run at him.
If the Eagles ultimately decide to do so, it might put them out of the running to re-sign Jaelan Phillips, but these are all hypotheticals at this point. And we know Roseman is very good at creating extra cap space to fill a need.
Regardless of what happens, tight end is just one of the positions that the Eagles might need to have a solid plan for this offseason.