Jaxson Dart and Isaiah Likely are wasting no time turning the Giants’ summer buzz into something real.
The connection between the rookie quarterback and the new tight end is already showing up in training camp, and ESPN’s Jordan Raanan went so far as to call Likely a “favorite target” for Dart. That comes with Malik Nabers still working through rehab, which has opened the door for Likely to get plenty of attention.
“If Nabers isn’t healthy, Likely will be a favorite of Dart,” Raanan wrote.
For Giants fans, that’s about the kind of outcome they had in mind when Likely arrived. His fit looked obvious from the start, especially after spending four seasons with John Harbaugh in Baltimore and working with the offensive coaches who followed Harbaugh. The one detail that can get lost in all of that is that Likely has never actually played in Matt Nagy’s system, so this isn’t just a simple carryover from one staff to the next.
Even so, the early signs are strong. Nabers is not taking part in team drills, and the list of receivers who have experience with either Harbaugh or Nagy is short: Darnell Mooney and Odell Beckham Jr., with Beckham having not played since December 2024.
Raanan also suggested Likely could settle in as Dart’s second option, which lines up with the way plenty of people around the team already saw this playing out. That idea has only gained traction because Darius Slayton is coming off hernia surgery and has a history of drops.
The Giants clearly believe in Likely, too. Harbaugh and Joe Schoen backed that up by giving him $20.5 million guaranteed at signing.
And it’s not hard to see why the team is excited. New York hasn’t had a truly consistent, game-changing tight end since Jeremy Shockey.
Evan Engram had his moments, and there’s been growing buzz around Theo Johnson, but it’s been a long time since Giants fans could count on the position to swing games every Sunday.
The real question now is how often Dart will look for him if Nabers remains limited, or if he misses Week 1 against the Cowboys on Sept. 13. For now, though, there’s no sign Nabers won’t play in that game.
Still, the early returns are enough to make the buzz feel justified. Likely is already getting his money’s worth.
In Other News...
Giants Camp Is Already Turning Up Pressure On Several Roster Names
Training camp is still in its early stretch, but there are already a handful of Giants roster names under a brighter spotlight than they probably wanted. Jaxson Dart has been working through the usual rookie growing pains while trying to get comfortable in the offense, Evan Neal has seen his reps trimmed, and Paulson Adebo has already lost his hold on a starting cornerback job. Ben Sauls is also in the middle of a kicking battle that figures to get tighter as camp moves forward.
None of it has reached the point of a move being made yet, which is what makes this part of camp so interesting. The Giants are still sorting through competition rather than making cuts, but these are the kinds of roles that can shift quickly once the preseason games start and the pressure stops being limited to practice fields. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Could Complicate Cam Skattebos Role Sooner Than Expected
Cam Skattebo is still expected to have a meaningful role in the Giants backfield, but the roster picture around him may not stay settled for long. According to Dan Duggan of The Athletic, New York is exploring the possibility of adding another running back, a move that would give the team more options as it tries to shape the position group heading into the season.
The intriguing part is what kind of player the Giants have in mind. The current setup points to Skattebo being a central piece, but the front office appears interested in pairing him with a runner who brings a different element to the offense. Whether that addition comes quickly or at all is still unclear, but it is enough to suggest the backfield could look more crowded than expected before long. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Camp Has One Encouraging Trend And Two Lingering Concerns
Training camp has given the Giants at least one reason to feel upbeat, and it starts with Malik Nabers continuing to look like one of the most dynamic players on the field. As Jaxson Dart settles into a new offense shaped by multiple coaching influences, the bigger picture around the passing game still has some promising pieces. The rookie quarterback is navigating a system that asks a lot of him, but the early returns around Nabers suggest there is real upside once the operation starts to come together.
The more unsettled part of camp is on the other side of the ball, where the cornerback competition has become one of the rosters most closely watched battles. Greg Newsome II, Deonte Banks, Paulson Adebo and Colton Hood are all in the mix for playing time, and the Giants still have to sort out who fits best in the secondary. Roster pressure is adding another layer to the evaluation, with Jalin Hyatt emerging as a possible trade candidate if the numbers force a tough decision elsewhere. [Read more 🡒]