Theo Johnson’s grip on the Giants’ tight end job may not last much longer.
New York thought it had addressed the position last offseason by signing Isaiah Likely, but that move only solved part of the puzzle. Likely is listed as a tight end, yet in Matt Nagy’s offense he functions more like a slot receiver, which leaves Johnson as the team’s true “Y” tight end.
That role could be in jeopardy if the Giants like what they see in the 2027 draft class. CBS Sports analyst Ryan Wilson has New York targeting LSU tight end Trey’Dez Green in his latest mock draft, and he made the fit pretty clear: "I love the idea of giving Jaxson Dart both Isaiah Likely and Green as pass-catching options."
Johnson still has time to change the conversation, but the clock is ticking. Through five games this season, he has only four catches for 55 yards and a touchdown. The score was a highlight-reel moment, but the rest of his production has been uneven.
The problem for Johnson is that the drop-off hasn’t just come as a receiver. With Likely carving out a bigger role, Johnson has been pushed into more of a blocking assignment, and that hasn’t been a strength either. His PFF run-blocking grade this season sits at 35.6, which ranks last among 102 tight ends with at least 30 run-blocking snaps.
That’s a rough place to be for a player entering the final year of his rookie deal next season. If Johnson isn’t making plays in the passing game and isn’t helping enough in the run game, the Giants have little reason to keep leaning on him - or to hand him an extension.
Green, at least on paper, gives New York a tempting alternative.
The LSU prospect checks the kind of boxes that make evaluators sit up. He stands 6-foot-7 and weighs 240 pounds, but still has the speed to threaten defenses downfield. He’s also shown real ball skills, hauling in 60% of his contested-catch opportunities last season.
The question is whether he can hold up as an in-line blocker. Green is still a bit light for that role, even if he has added weight since last season, and he can lose leverage at the line because of his lean build.
If he keeps developing in that area, the Giants could have a clean path to move on from Johnson and give Green a shot to climb the depth chart.
In Other News...
Isaiah Likely Has A Big Eagles Opportunity While Giants Weigh A Change
Isaiah Likelys first outing with J.J. McCarthy under center for the Giants was a quiet one, as he caught two of four targets for 12 yards and didnt get into the end zone. Still, the setup for the next game looks more favorable. New York is favored against the Eagles, and Philadelphias defense has had trouble with slot receivers, which could give Likely a cleaner path to a bigger role if the passing game finds a rhythm.
The wrinkle is that the Giants are also looking at ways to reshape the offense, and that could affect how much they lean on Likely going forward. If the roster changes they are considering come together, the attack could look different in a hurry, leaving his usage in a less certain place even as this matchup offers a chance to build on a slow start. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Could Still Add The One Upgrade This 6-2 Start Demands
The Giants 6-2 start has them sitting atop the NFC East, and it has also put them squarely in the middle of trade-season chatter. ESPNs Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano have both connected New York to possible upgrades, with the front office believed to be at least exploring help at defensive tackle and running back as the November 10 deadline approaches.
One name that has surfaced in that conversation is Jonathan Taylor, a reminder that the Giants are not just protecting a good record but trying to see how far it can carry them. They have already checked on other targets and come away empty in some cases, which suggests the search is real, even if the exact move is still unclear. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Are Suddenly Linked To A Pricey Fix For Two Roster Holes
The Giants are heading into Week 9 against the Eagles with more than one hole to patch, and the injury picture has only sharpened the urgency. Jaxson Dart and Brian Burns are among the key names on the list, leaving the team to navigate a stretch where depth, health and pass-rush help all matter at once.
That backdrop is why the chatter around a possible Khalil Mack pursuit has started to pick up. The veteran linebacker would fit the kind of immediate, proven fix teams look for when they are trying to stabilize a defense in-season, but for now it remains only speculation, with no official deal in place as the Giants keep sorting through their own roster issues. [Read more 🡒]