Giants Candidates To Sign Veteran Tight End

Perhaps the most surprising part of the New York Giants’ offseason was the limited change to the starting offense. Russell Wilson is a sizable upgrade over Daniel Jones, and Jaxson Dart will eventually get his chance to usher in the next era of Giants football. The supporting cast, though, is almost identical.

That leaves New York with an acceptable offensive line, at least while healthy, a league-average receiving corps, and a promising young ground game.

The weakest link of that unit is at tight end, where Theo Johnson is set to start after an underwhelming rookie season. He’s justifiably being given the grace to develop at a hard position that is notoriously hard to learn, but it projects to be a sore spot in the passing offense.

As such, Pro Football Focus listed the Giants as candidates to sign a playmaking tight end late in free agency.

“The Giants currently house a pair of young tight ends in Daniel Bellinger and Theo Johnson, but neither has managed to produce a PFF receiving grade above 58.0,” Mason Cameron wrote. “While there is no shortage of quality pass catchers in New York, the offense could use a big-bodied threat in the receiving game.

“Gerald Everett could fit the bill for the Giants. Although Everett struggled to produce in Chicago last season, he is familiar with Russell Wilson, having played together in 2023. That season, Everett posted a 115.0 passer rating when targeted, the highest of his career.”

Everett didn’t do much of anything in 2024, logging just eight catches for 36 yards. Still, his career is littered with semi-productive seasons between 400 and 560 yards. New York would take that production from the second tight end spot. He wouldn’t be taking playing time away from Chris Manhertz, the team’s premier blocking tight end, but he could reasonably be expected to challenge Bellinger.

As an elite athlete, he offers an enticing blend of athletic traits that make him strong after the catch and underneath as a separator. He’d insulate the room and inject it with a little more explosiveness without costing the Giants anything significant.

New York may look for veteran additions to the 90-man roster as the offseason continues. Even with tempered expectations, he remains a viable option for the offense.