Isaiah Likely’s new deal with the Giants comes with a pretty simple expectation: make it matter right away.
New York handed Likely a three-year, $40 million contract with $26 million guaranteed because the offense wanted another tight end who could create problems for linebackers and safeties. It is a bet on what he can grow into with a bigger role, not a payoff for years of elite production.
The résumé is solid, just not the kind that screams $40 million on its own. In 63 games, including 26 starts, Likely has 135 catches for 1,568 yards and 15 touchdowns. In 2025, he added 27 receptions and one score.
That’s enough to show why the Giants believe in the player. It is not enough to justify the price tag unless the usage changes. He needs to be woven into the passing game more often, especially when the field tightens up in the red zone and on third down, where the quarterback needs someone reliable.
That part matters even more with Jaxson Dart in the picture. A young quarterback can use a tight end who separates, wins contested throws, and helps turn a messy snap into something manageable. Likely has the athletic tools for that job, but the Giants need to see it every week, not just in flashes.
And that’s where the pressure sits on this contract. The Giants didn’t pay Likely to be a useful side piece who vanishes for stretches. They paid him to force defenses to account for him.
Nobody is expecting 100 catches. What the Giants need is a steady role, real value on third down, and enough splash plays to make the investment feel tied to the offense. That’s a fair ask for this kind of money.
Likely doesn’t have to be the engine of the passing attack. He just can’t drift through it either.
If he becomes Dart’s safety valve, the deal starts to look a lot cleaner. If he settles in as a part-time weapon, the Giants will be stuck explaining the contract all season.
Year 1 should tell them which way this is going.
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