Buffalo Bills 2022 NFL Draft Prospect to Know: Isaiah Likely
Last year was a breakout season for Dawson Knox and was a big part of the Buffalo Bills’ offense. The front office also added to the position this offseason by signing former first round pick O.J. Howard to a one-year deal.
On the surface, this looks like a position that is fairly well set however the only tight end under contract past this season is undrafted free agent Quintin Morris. This could be why the Bills are scheduled to bring in Coastal Carolina tight end Isaiah Likely later this month as one of their Top 30 visits, according to Jordan Schultz.
Let’s take a look at the player and how he might fit with the Buffalo Bills.
Measurables/Stats
Height: 6’4 1/2″
Weight: 245 pounds
Arms: 31 7/8″
Hands: 10″
Isaiah Likely has been a big part of Coastal Carolina’s offense the past two years with 89 receptions, 1,513 receiving yards, and 17 receiving touchdowns. He has been a big-play threat over that stretch and averaged 17 yards per reception.
The biggest game of the season last year came against Alabama State when he had eight receptions, 232 receiving yards, and four receiving touchdowns.
NFL.com Scouting Report by Lance Zierlein
"Tight end prospect with an intangibles profile and positional traits that make him projectable to the next level. Likely was a winner in high school and played a pivotal role in the ascension of Coastal Carolina over the past two seasons. He lacks a prototypical tight end frame and is an inconsistent blocker, but he runs well and filled up his career stat sheet with big plays. It could take Likely a year or two to find his footing against stronger, faster coverage, but he has the tools to uncover against NFL coverage as an “F” tight end."
How Isaiah Likely fits with the Buffalo Bills
If the Buffalo Bills are trying to add a player in case they are not able to re-sign Dawson Knox, then Isaiah Likely would be a great replacement as a pass catcher and downfield threat at the tight end position.
However, he is not a perfect replacement for what Knox brings to this offense as Knox is an underrated blocker at the position. As Zierlein notes, this is something that Likely would have to work on but adding a player like him this year could give him some time to improve in this area.
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While it remains to be seen if the Buffalo Bills draft a tight end this year, they certainly appear to want to keep their options open and are doing their due diligence. If they were to add Likely, he would have a great chance at excelling in the NFL with a quarterback like Josh Allen and playing in this offense.