Who Should I Start? James Hurst or Isaiah Likely

Monday, March 4, 10:44 PM

The Athletic's Larry Holder lists New Orleans Saints offensive guard/tackle James Hurst as a potential salary cap casualty this offseason. At the start of the offseason, the Saints sat around $83 million in the red, according to Over the Cap. Hurst and linebacker Demario Davis are the only two players who would give the Saints 2024 salary cap relief of more than $3 million each on their entire roster. Releasing Hurst would free up around $4.2 million, so he's one of the most obvious salary cap casualties for the team. The 32-year-old veteran missed two games in 2023 due to an ankle injury but was New Orleans' starting left tackle when healthy. The 10-year NFL veteran has been with the Saints for the last four seasons after spending the first six years of his career with the Baltimore Ravens.

Saturday, January 20, 9:13 PM

Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely secured his first-ever postseason touchdown in the Divisional Round, finishing with two catches for 34 yards and a touchdown in the team's 34-10 victory over the Texans. With Mark Andrews (ankle) still sidelined, Likely took on the role of the team's primary tight end and continued to make significant plays in his absence. Andrews returned to practice this week, increasing the likelihood of his return for the AFC Championship game next week. The Ravens will host either the Bills or Chiefs, both ranking in the top 10 in DVOA against the pass. These teams have effectively defended tight ends throughout the season, and Likely's value would diminish in any format if Andrews makes his return.