The Washington Commanders have a new free agent target for the offseason after a shocking move by another team
Jayden Daniels could be getting a true tight end threat in Isaiah Likely this offseason.
The Washington Commanders still have five games left to play this season, including a trip to take on the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday.
It’s never too early to think about the offseason, though, with a 3-9 record and one loss away from officially being eliminated from the playoffs. The Commanders are set up to have a high draft pick after the season and also plenty of cap space.
General manager Adam Peters will have the opportunity to be aggressive in free agency, and a new target is on the radar after the Baltimore Ravens decided to pay tight end Mark Andrews.
Isaiah Likely could be a free agent after the season
It seemed like the end was near for Andrews in Baltimore after last season, and Isaiah Likely would be the future at tight end, but things have changed drastically. The Ravens had to start the season without Likely, and that was enough for Andrews to show that he can still play.
Neither tight end has mind-blowing stats this season, which is why it was so surprising to see the Ravens give Andrews a big extension after he was expected to be on his way out.
Andrews is locked in for three more years, and Likely is a free agent after this season, and it’s unlikely the Ravens would pay both tight ends with Charlie Kolar also emerging. The Ravens are projected to only have $28.8 million in effective cap space next season, so they need to spend their money wisely.
The franchise tag price for tight ends is projected to be around $16 million, which is way too much for the Ravens to afford, unless they sacrifice some other players on the team. There’s a strong chance that Likely tests the free agent market, and he might not have to move far if the Commanders show interest, which they should.
The Commanders need Isaiah Likely
This might be the final season for Zach Ertz before he retires, and regardless, the Commanders need to get younger on offense and find a real threat at tight end. Likely is only 25 and has shown he can produce at a high level, even has the TE2 option. The explosive after-the-catch plays have been missing in Washington for years, and Likely could be the perfect weapon for Jayden Daniels.
The Commanders’ need for a true tight end could be enough for him to want to come to Washington and have the opportunity to be the starter. The benefit for the Commanders is that they only have six picks for the 2026 NFL Draft, and wouldn’t have to use one on a tight end.
Going after Likely makes too much sense for the Commanders, and he should be a top target for them after the season. Spotrac projects Likely to get $10 million per year on his new contract, which is very favorable, and his first-year cap hit would be in the low single digits.
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