One major upgrade: Isaiah Likely, the former Baltimore Ravens tight end, signed a three-year, $40 million contract with the Giants and is expected to play a significant role in the offense this coming season. Early chatter suggested the Giants might have overpaid, but subsequent contract benchmarks in the league have tempered that perception, making Likely’s deal appear more aligned with market expectations.
Contract context and upside
Recent moves around the league included a comparable tight end deal for a rising star, which featured a roughly $54 million commitment over three years. That contract translates to about $15 million per year—slightly more than Likely’s annual average. While Pitts has established production, Likely’s résumé over four NFL seasons shows more limited single-season totals, with no season surpassing 500 receiving yards prior to his arrival in New York. This discrepancy has fueled some scrutiny about whether the Giants got ahead of the market, though the team is clearly betting on upside.
Likely’s career path has been influenced by competition for targets. In Baltimore, he spent years behind a premier playmaker, limiting his opportunities. In New York, the expectation is that he’ll have a more prominent role and could emerge as a primary pass-catching option, at least early in the season. If he can deliver starting-caliber production and become a reliable target for Dart, the contract could prove to be a strong value.
Fit within the Giants’ offensive plan
The Giants reshaped their offense this offseason to maximize Likely’s potential. With Nabers recovering from a knee injury, the receiving corps could temporarily rely more heavily on tight ends and other pass-catching options. Nabers’ health remains a critical variable; if he’s not ready for training camp or Week 1, Likely could be asked to shoulder a larger portion of the passing workload than he’s previously handled.
Other receivers in the mix—including Darnell Mooney, Theo Johnson, and Darius Slayton—offer viable capabilities, but none have previously sustained the kind of full workload that a primary receiver would. Likely’s opportunity to step into a leading pass-catching role is still contingent on Nabers’ readiness, but early offseason activity notes suggest the 26-year-old is prepared to seize the moment and potentially break out.
Outlook
If Likely can translate his opportunity into consistent production in 2026, the contract structure could age very well for the Giants. The combination of a healthier Nabers, a more defined passing game plan, and Likely’s development could position New York to feature a dynamic, multi-faceted aerial attack. The coming months will determine how quickly Likely can adapt to a larger role and how the offense evolves around him, but the early signs point to a player who could exceed initial expectations and become a dependable weapon for the team.
