The Kansas City Chiefs are trying to revive the explosive offense that helped them become a dynasty over the past six seasons. After a disappointing tenure under Matt Nagy, the Chiefs are turning back to Eric Bieniemy as their new offensive coordinator to fix the problem.
However, that doesn't change the fact that they could use another explosive playmaker this offseason to tie things together for 2026.
One potential target for the Chiefs in free agency is Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely. The 25-year-old is set to hit the open market in March and should be one of the top names in a strong market at the position. Interestingly, Likely may have hinted at his preference to join the Chiefs after liking an Instagram photo posted by Patrick Mahomes earlier this week (h/t @goatevar).
For a player with his share of defiant comments toward the Chiefs in the past, a simple like could be a signal that he’s changing his tune and could be the first breadcrumb that could lead his path to Kansas City.
Isaiah Likely’s IG Activity Could Hint at Joining Chiefs in Free Agency
On the surface, Likely’s social media activity could be nothing more than admiring the photography of Mahomes running out of the tunnel. Conversely, it could be a wise business decision as he looks for his new home in free agency.
The Chiefs could use some help at tight end, even though they are waiting to see if Travis Kelce will hold off retirement for another year. Likely would be an instant upgrade over backup TEs Noah Gray, Robert Tonyan, and Jared Wiley.
A vertical threat in the Ravens’ offense, Likely has caught 135 passes for 1,568 yards and 15 touchdowns over his first four seasons, but those numbers are watered down playing behind Mark Andrews in Baltimore. The Coastal Carolina product has also been reliable when the ball has been thrown his way, dropping just two passes on 99 targets the past two seasons and posting a career 124.6 passer rating when targeted, according to Pro Football Focus.
Aside from that, the decision to like Mahomes’s post may be a new leaf. Likely chirped at the Chiefs frequently during the 2024 season, infamously telling reporters “Good luck in the postseason” and unleashing a profanity-laden tirade toward hecklers after being a toenail away from a season-opening win in Kansas City that September.
Last season brought another controversy among Ravens fans when he told a fan “(EXPLETIVE) is (EXPLETIVE) as (EXPLETIVE) walking out of the stadium after a loss to the New England Patriots, leading him to clarify that he was not talking about the team on social media the next day.
With former Ravens head coach John Harbaugh fired at the end of last season and Likely projected to command an annual average salary of $8.8 million, per Spotrac, he’s likely looking for a new start where he can thrive. Catching passes from Mahomes would be a great idea, and the activity on Instagram may be the first step toward Lively offering his services to the Chiefs.