The Baltimore Ravens had a very successful 2022 draft that saw them select 11 total prospects. Some of those players were at positions that the team double dipped at, including the tight end position, where Baltimore selected both Iowa State’s Charlie Kolar and Costal Carolina’s Isaiah Likely in the fourth round.
During the Ravens’ post-draft press conference, head coach John Harbaugh was asked how Kolar and Likely upgrade the team’s tight end room, as well as if he can see a scenario where they keep four tight ends on the roster in 2022. Harbaugh first went into detail on Kolar, but also mentioned at the beginning of his answer that he does see a situation where they could keep four at the position.
“Yes, to the second part of it. And he [Charlie Kolar] is a big target. He’s a receiving tight end whose got … He’s willing to block. He’ll go throw it up in there – he’s not afraid. But he’s a … Bottom line, he’s a big receiver. He’s got great catch radius, great body control; he’s good over the middle; he can catch it in every kind of direction; [he] makes big plays; [he’s] a very smart, tough guy. He’s a big receiver for us in the middle of the field.”
Harbaugh then described Likely and what he brings to the table.
“This is a very intriguing player. I remember watching him on tape early on. It was just like, ‘Man, this guy is making plays all the time.’ He lines up as a receiver; he’s catching the ball as a wide receiver. He lines up at tight end. They motion him. They run him in boots – in the drag boots and things – and he’s just really electric. He runs downfield. Sometimes he blocks people and knocks them off their feet downfield. It’s just an interesting guy, but you watch him, [and] it’s not like an obvious position fit; he’s just kind of a playmaker-type guy. So, I think he’s really intriguing, and it’s going to … We’re excited about trying to figure out exactly where he fits, but he definitely fits as a playmaker.”
Many have discussed what it means for the future of Nick Boyle now that Kolar and Likely are in town. The veteran suffered a gruesome knee injury during the 2020 season and was on-and-off of the field in 2021 as he continued his recovery.
Moving on from Boyle would save the team some much-needed cap space, but the role he plays in the Baltimore offense is extremely valuable. He also provides some of the best blocking skills in the entire league, so keeping him around wouldn’t be a bad thing if he can return to full health and return to the player that many know that he can be. Having a tight end room of Mark Andrews, Boyle, Kolar and Likely would present matchup problems all over the field, and Harbaugh at least envisions a scenario where the team carries that group.