Isaiah Likely is stepping into a very different situation with the Giants, and that’s the whole point.
Giants.com recently pointed to him as a player ready to make a jump, and the logic is easy to follow: he’s no longer buried behind Mark Andrews for most of the passing game. In Baltimore, Likely was operating in a crowded tight end setup. In New York, the path is much clearer.
His career numbers show the kind of player the Giants are getting. In 63 games, Likely has 135 catches for 1,568 yards and 15 touchdowns. His 2025 production was 27 receptions for 307 yards and one score, but that came while he was still working in a secondary role.
What changes now is the opportunity. The Giants signed him with a chance to become the first option at tight end, and that gives him a different kind of value in the offense.
Jaxson Dart has already described what makes Likely tough to defend. He’s a big target who can bend through zones, find space on scramble drills, and make life easier for a quarterback when a play falls apart.
That kind of skill set matters for a young passer. Dart doesn’t need Likely to turn into a 100-catch player. He needs dependable snaps, wins between the numbers, and a target defenses have to respect before they start focusing too heavily on Malik Nabers.
That’s where Likely can help the most. A tight end who can settle into soft spots against zone coverage or win a quick matchup gives Dart a cleaner answer when the outside routes aren’t there.
And the Giants don’t need every drive to run through Nabers. If Likely can pull attention from linebackers and safeties, the passing game becomes harder to predict. That’s the part worth watching when camp opens.
The opening is there. Now Likely has to show he can own it.
In Other News...
Giants Fans Just Got A Wild Isaiah Likely Comparison
Former NFL player and analyst Ryan Clark floated an eye-catching comparison for Giants tight end Isaiah Likely during an appearance on NFL Live, suggesting the new addition could bring a different kind of spark to New Yorks offense. The idea is easy to understand from the Giants perspective: they signed Likely to a three-year contract this offseason, signaling they want him to play a much bigger role than he has in the past.
There is still a gap between projection and production, though, and that is what makes the discussion so intriguing. Likely has not yet put together a season that matches the kind of impact Clark was pointing toward, and the Giants are still sorting out how their passing game will look as they build around him. With Malik Nabers health still uncertain, every possible weapon matters a little more, which is why this comparison has already become such a talking point. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Still Have One Offensive Line Problem Fans Cant Ignore
The Giants have spent enough time trying to stabilize the middle of their offensive line to know the center spot matters as much as any other, and John Michael Schmitz Jr. remains the player under the brightest spotlight. New York has upgraded the group around him, including rookie Francis Mauigoa at right guard, but the bigger question is whether Schmitz fits what the line is being asked to do now, especially with a heavier emphasis on gap run-blocking.
Schmitz has looked more comfortable in zone concepts than in schemes that ask him to move and adjust on the fly, and last seasons protection issues only sharpened the concern. He enters the final year of his rookie deal with a chance to change the conversation, but also with the kind of pressure that can turn every snap into a referendum on whether the Giants have found their long-term answer at center. [Read more 🡒]