Isaiah Likely 2022 NFL Draft Profile

After spending his college years at Coastal Carolina, tight end Isaiah Likely is hoping to take his game to the professional level in the 2022 NFL Draft. Likely is coming off of his best season to date, recording 59 receptions on 77 targets for 912 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Likely initially joined the college football world as a two-star recruit. As a true freshman, Likely caught just 12 passes, but managed to turn those opportunities into 106 yards and five touchdowns. His role grew in 2019, as he finished that season with 32 receptions for 431 yards and five touchdowns. For the third straight year, Likely improved his game, finishing 2020 with 30 receptions on 48 targets for 601 yards and five touchdowns.

Strengths

Great route runner with proven production – averaged 2.42 yards per route in college;

Soft, reliable hands – only one drop in 2021;

Deep threat potential with speed to blow past linebackers and safeties;

Impressive catch radius – can haul in anything thrown in his zip code;

Smart player that can follow the quarterback in a scramble drill;

Impressive running skills after the catch.

Weaknesses

Way, way too small to function on the line of scrimmage;

Essentially a wide receiver, tight end in name only;

Below-average blocker that cannot hold up in the run game;

Not a very physical player – struggles to break through man coverage;

Not good in contested catch situations.

NFL Comparison: Dustin Keller

Projection: Round 5

Bottom Line on Isaiah Likely

If a player like Isaiah Likely were ever to succeed in the NFL, it would be in this modern pass-happy era. Likely was made to catch the football, and as long as teams are airing it out, Likely will have a chance to stick around on a roster. The move tight end runs some of the best routes of anyone at his position, has soft hands and the ball skills to haul in just about anything thrown in his direction. Once he has the ball, Likely’s speed and lateral agility allow him to dodge would-be tacklers and pick up big gains on the ground.

Likely might officially be a tight end, but he’s a wide receiver. The Coastal Carolina product simply has no business ever lining up on the Y and doesn’t have the strength to match up with defensive linemen or linebackers in running situations. This lack of size shows up in the passing game too, as physical safeties are able to push him around in man coverage and dominate him on contested catches. Seeing as the jump in talent between the NFL and Coastal Carolina is immeasurably large, Likely will probably have a tough time adjusting.

Ultimately, Likely is a project move tight end that offers some upside in the passing game. He’ll need to add a lot of muscle to make it in the NFL, but if he can do it without sacrificing his speed, he could turn into a nice role player. However, that’s a big if, and it would still be a year or two down the line.