NFL Trade News: Miami Dolphins linked to $8M tight end from Baltimore Ravens

ESPN’s Aaron Schatz has named Baltimore Ravens TE2 Isaiah Likely as a probable candidate for Tua Tagovailoa’s Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins’ top three tight ends, namely, Greg Dulcich, Julian Hill, and Darren Waller, are all free agents, and they could use a much-needed upgrade at their position. Waller could only record six touchdowns after his return from retirement as hip and pectoral injuries limited him to only nine games. Likely can now start as No. 1 tight end after being TE2 behind Mark Andrews in the Ravens. He ranked sixth in 2023 and third in 2024, with 400 yards each, but 19th in 2025, when he had only one touchdown. He may get a chance to shine in Miami’s offense, as the team no longer needs to feed targets to recently released receivers like Tyreek Hill and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine. According to Spotrac, the 25-year-old blocking receiver signed a four-year contract worth $4.16 million with Baltimore in 2022, which included a $504,340 signing bonus, $504,340 in guaranteed money, and an average annual salary of $1.04 million.For the 2026 season, he is an unrestricted free agent. Based on Spotrac’s calculated market value, the Coastal Carolina alumnus is projected to sign a two-year contract worth $17.63 million and earn an average annual salary of $8.8 million.Ravens want to re-sign Isaiah Likely, but he may benefit elsewhere where there’s no Andrews to steal his spotlight [even after the much detested and costly Lamar Jackson drop against the Buffalo Bills].The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec reported via X that Baltimore general manager Eric DeCosta said the team would still like to re-sign Likely. In response, an X user commented, “I think most have let him go; he wants to be a No. 1 TE. The only way he comes back is if the market crumbles.”Another took a dig at Andrews, saying that he “needs to perform in the playoffs. Plain and simple.” A user said he didn’t mind re-signing Isaiah but minded paying for a depreciating asset in Mark. Likely did not get any chance to shine in 2025; he had career lows in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns. He had contract extension talks with the Ravens’ front office last summer, but then he broke his foot in training camp, which led to no further talks between the two sides. The 25-year-old could not make an impact in the 2025 season.To top it, wide receiver Zay Flowers had 118 targets and tight end Mark Andrews had 70 targets in 2025, leaving only 36 targets in 15 games for Likely. These numbers call for a change to the contract! Not just call, but scream. No wonder ESPN’s Aaron Schatz wants Likely to be where there’s no one like Tyreek Hill or Nick Westbrook-Ikhine to eclipse Likely’s individual performance.ESPN's Dan Graziano shared what he heard about the tight end's future with the franchise from the NFL Combine. Isaiah is a free agent, and his contract extension with Baltimore depends on the market for him. He had a down year, but he's only 25, so he could be seeking a larger role with a team willing to sign him based on his potential. "I love Baltimore. They took the chance on me when all 31 [teams] didn't," Likely said via NFL Network's Bobby Kownack. "At the end of the day, I tell everybody Baltimore is home for me. But business is business. So, I'm just seeing what's going to happen." His patience might be waning...Heavy Sports' Christopher Sheppard reports Miami needs someone at TE who can move the needle, and Likely can fill that role.