The New England Patriots, like all NFL teams, will hit the NFL's free agency tampering period on March 9. The team has clear objectives. The team needs to bolster their offensive line, which gave up too many sacks; their edge position, which produced too few; and, now that Stefon Diggs has been released, their wide receiver position as well.
A lesser-emphasized need is at tight end. There are possibilities in free agency, and one is former Everett (MA) High School standout, Isaiah Likely.
Tight end is a sneaky need for the Patriots. They have 31-year-old veteran Hunter Henry back, but their 2025 backup, Austin Hooper, is a free agent and may not be. In addition, the position screams for a young tight end to take the position when Henry leaves.
If Hooper departs, adding two tight ends is advisable for Mike Vrabel. One in free agency would be a good idea, and one in the draft to develop also makes sense. While there are top options like Kyle Pitts and Cade Otton, maybe available, Isaiah Likely might make sense for several reasons.
Isaiah Likely clearly would like to play for his hometown team: the Patriots
A young veteran tight end who is cited by Pro Football Focus as their fourth-best tight end in free agency is Baltimore's Isaiah Likely.
"Snaps: 1,798 | PFF grade: 69.1
Likely had a down year in 2025 but ... earned an eighth-ranked 77.1 PFF receiving grade in 2024. It's worth noting that he was likely hindered in 2025 by a foot injury suffered in training camp. Given that Likely will be just 26 years old when the 2026 campaign begins, it wouldn't be surprising to see him have a big market in free agency."
The hope is that Likely will be ready to go for the mini-camps, and any team considering signing him will certainly do their due diligence to be certain he's back to full strength. As to whether he'd like to be a New England Patriot, that seemed to be pretty clear in a recent interview.
On the "Up and Adams Show," Isaiah Likely says he likes the idea of "going back home" to the Patriots.
What does MA native Isaiah Likely think about joining his hometown Patriots in free agency?@DaGorilla4 | @heykayadams pic.twitter.com/GuQ9CLeRCn
— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) March 4, 2026
When a player has an affinity for the team that might be looking to sign him to a big contract, it's never a bad thing for that player to make that crystal clear. Likely did just that, and it would be a homecoming of sorts, indeed.
Signing Isaiah Likely makes sense if the price is right
There's no doubt that the Patriots have a significant need at tight end. They're thin there, and acquiring a young tight end is essential, and two is advisable. That position is an integral component of any Josh McDaniels offense.
Likely had a down season in 2025, catching only 27 passes for 307 yards and a touchdown. Those aren't numbers that would generate a huge contract. Yet, in 2024, before the injury, he caught 42 for 477 yards and six touchdowns.
Again, those aren't sky-high numbers, and the Patriots may be able to get a more team-friendly deal for the soon-to-be 26-year-old than they will for some other options.
While a more productive young tight end like Cade Otton is a better option, given the Patriots' other needs, they may have to economize at tight end. Likely won't be cheap at his age, but he may be more affordable, and that's the key. The Patriots and Mike Vrabel could do a lot worse.
They should definitely consider bringing tight end Isaiah Likely home as one of their options.