The New England Patriots fell to the Seattle Seahawks in the Super Bowl by a score of 29-13. While the 16-point delta was a comfortable one for Seattle, New England never stood much of a chance. They didn't score until the fourth quarter, and their best defensive efforts were in vain as the offense failed to move the football.
Drake Maye was poor, the offensive line struggled, and the receivers showed they clearly aren't good enough to win their matchups consistently. Without a doubt, upgrades are necessary this offseason, and one of their opponents this year could let a potential target walk.
The Patriots' offense uses 12 personnel at a very high clip, as it's been a favorite of Josh McDaniels ' for years. This year, Hunter Henry had a career year as Maye's seam threat, while Austin Hooper's production fell off from '24.
While still a capable second option, the 31-year-old is set to be a free agent at the end of the season. If New England wants to continue their usage of two-tight end sets, NBC Sports Boston's Justin Leger suggests a good option could be Baltimore Ravens Isaiah Likely.
Isaiah Likely could be an excellent fit in New England for the 2026 season
From Weeks 2-12 this season, Hooper played at least 51% of snaps in each game. He wasn't a bad second option during that time, but that's a lot of game time for a player who ended the regular season with 21 catches. If the Patriots could add a second vertical threat at tight end via free agency, their offense would likely see major dividends.
This year, as a second option behind Mark Andrews, Isaiah Likely had 27 catches for 307 yards in 14 games. While those numbers may seem underwhelming, keep in mind that the year prior, he had career highs in catches (42), yards (477), and touchdowns (6), and he is also just 25 years old.
His market value is likely in the range of $8-12 million a season, depending on a team's desperation for a new weapon at tight end. New England would be wise not to extend itself far over the $10 million mark for the former Coastal Carolina Chanticleer.
While he would no doubt bring significant value, the team has many holes to fill.
Likely would make an excellent addition to an offense that struggled in a major way during the playoffs. They'll need more weapons to secure themselves as one of the league's top offenses going into 2026, and ensuring Maye has as much help as possible should be the top responsibility of Eliot Wolf and Ryan Cowden.