Giants Could Target Isaiah Likely to Reunite with Harbaugh, Monken in 2026 Free Agency
With John Harbaugh now officially at the helm in New York, the Giants are starting to look a little more like Baltimore North. The coaching staff is already taking on a Ravens flavor, and there’s growing buzz that the roster could follow suit-starting with tight end Isaiah Likely.
Likely, who’s set to hit free agency in 2026, makes a lot of sense for a Giants team that’s not just rebuilding, but retooling with familiar pieces. Add in the expected arrival of Todd Monken-Harbaugh’s offensive coordinator in Baltimore-and you’ve got a trio that already knows how to make things work.
Why Isaiah Likely Fits What the Giants Are Building
Let’s start with the obvious: Monken loves his tight ends. In Baltimore, he leaned heavily on 12 personnel-two tight ends on the field at once-and used it as a weapon to stretch defenses and create mismatches. That system allowed Likely to shine, even while playing second fiddle to All-Pro Mark Andrews.
Now, the 2025 numbers don’t jump off the page-27 catches for 307 yards and a touchdown-but the efficiency tells a different story. Likely posted a 114.1 passer rating when targeted and hauled in nearly 80% of his targets. That’s high-level production in a supporting role, and it speaks to his ability to maximize limited opportunities.
Across four seasons in Baltimore, Likely totaled 135 receptions for 1,568 yards and 15 touchdowns. He’s shown consistent growth, and even in a crowded tight end room, he found ways to impact games vertically and in the red zone.
A Complement to Theo Johnson, Not a Replacement
Let’s be clear: this isn’t about replacing Theo Johnson. The rookie showed real chemistry with Jaxson Dart last season and looks like a key part of the offense moving forward. But adding Likely would give the Giants a second tight end with vertical juice-a player who can stretch the seam and force defenses to account for multiple threats in the middle of the field.
At 6’4”, 245 pounds, Likely brings a blend of size and speed that’s tailor-made for Monken’s system. He’s not just a checkdown option-he’s a matchup problem. Linebackers struggle to run with him, safeties get boxed out, and when he’s paired with another athletic tight end like Johnson, the offense can dictate terms.
That said, there’s a case to be made that Likely’s skill set overlaps with Johnson’s. Both are vertical threats more than traditional in-line blockers.
If the Giants want to diversify the tight end room, they might opt for a more physical, blocking-first option to complement Johnson’s speed. But if the goal is to overwhelm defenses with athleticism and stretch the field from multiple angles, Likely fits the bill.
A Smart Financial Play?
Here’s where things get interesting. Likely is projected to command a deal in the neighborhood of four years, $36 million. That’s not cheap, but in today’s market-especially with wide receiver prices skyrocketing-it could be a value move.
Instead of shelling out WR1 money for a receiver, the Giants could land a tight end with wideout-level upside for significantly less. And because of his quieter 2025 season, there’s a chance his market doesn’t explode the way some expect.
Of course, $9 million per year is still a serious commitment, especially with Theo Johnson on the rise and Daniel Bellinger potentially available at a lower cost. Bellinger doesn’t offer the same receiving upside, but he’s a known quantity and a strong blocker-qualities this coaching staff may still value.
The Giants are up against the cap, but they have options to free up space. If they move on from a few veterans, they could create the room needed to bring in a high-upside tight end who already knows the system and the coaching staff.
Final Thoughts
Wide receiver remains the bigger need for the Giants this offseason, but if the market gets out of hand, pivoting to someone like Isaiah Likely could be a smart play. He’s got the athleticism, the system familiarity, and the production history to make an immediate impact.
And with Harbaugh and Monken steering the ship, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Giants lean into what they know works-tight ends who can stretch the field and stress defenses. Likely fits that mold. If the price is right, don’t be surprised if he’s catching passes in blue next fall.