One of the most undervalued positions offensively in the NFL today is far from the “skill positions” like quarterback, running back or wide receiver. It’s right on the periphery of the trenches, where the tight ends roam.
Fans and Maryland sports betting customers were disappointed the Baltimore Ravens did not get to the Super Bowl, but they can’t be down on one of the team’s young tight ends. In his second season, Isaiah Likely was well worth his money.
That’s because the fourth-round pick out of Coastal Carolina finished the year with 30 catches for 411 yards with five scores, while posting an approximate value (per Pro-Football-Reference.com) of 4 for John Harbaugh’s team.
Likely did all that on a $996,085 salary cap hit, representing a dollars per receiving yards average of $2,424, which ranked sixth among all players at that position this season.
BetMaryland.com — your source to MD sports betting apps — gauged the tight ends who produced the most per salary dollar. To do so, we used Pro-Football-Reference.com to find the cap hit and receiving yards of every NFL tight end during the 2023-24 NFL regular season. After doing the math of the dollar per point share for each player in the league, we were able to determine the 10 most value-driven TEs. Salary and yards were included for all teams the player was on during the 2023-24 season. (Note: The blocking skill of tight ends was unable to be numerical represented in this campaign.)
Most Undervalued NFL Tight Ends of 2023-24
Likely 6th in Our Rankings
While the Ravens’ championship or bust season burst at the seams against the Kansas City Chiefs in Sunday’s AFC Championship game, there’s no denying Likely’s second season in the NFL was one to remember.
Likely, 23, ranked sixth in the NFL in dollars per receiving yard, with his $2,424 average ranking behind Jake Ferguson of the Dallas Cowboys ($1,375), Tanner Hudson of the Cincinnati Bengals ($1,484), Trey McBride of the Arizona Cardinals ($1,548), Chig Okonkwo of the Tennessee Titans ($1,887) and Sam LaPorta of the Detroit Lions ($1,936).
In overall receiving yards, Likely’s total of 411 ranked fifth among the group, behind McBride’s 925 yards, Ferguson’s 761, Okonkwo’s 528 and Cade Otton of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ 455.
So, now, the Super Bowl is set, and it won’t include the Ravens. Fanatics Sportsbook Maryland and other boomakers have the San Francisco 49ers a slight favorite over the Kansas City Chiefs.
In the end, while Baltimore’s season came up two wins shy of their preseason goal, there’s little denying the future is bright in Maryland’s biggest city, with Likely helping guide the Ravens’ offensive attack in 2024 and beyond.
Bettors interested in placing a wager on the many lines and props in the Super Bowl should look at Maryland sports betting promos.
