Giants Newcomer Named Team's Breakout Candidate to Watch

The New York Giants need a No. 2 receiver to complement superstar Malik Nabers in 2026, especially while the WR1 recovers from his catastrophic knee injury sustained.

But given the Giants' uncertain wide-receiver corps, that second pass catcher may need to be tight end Isaiah Likely

Likely was named the Giants breakout candidate to watch by Dan Duggan of The Athletic, who assessed the now-former Baltimore Ravens tight end "needs to be" the guy for second-year QB Jaxson Dart.

First-year coach John Harbaugh helped sign Likely to a three-year contract, $40 million contract this offseason to bolster their passing attack.

The Giants finished 21st in the NFL in passing-yards per game (204.4) in Dart's rookie season, and any improvement would be beneficial after they ranked fifth in the league in rushing.

Isaiah Likely 'Needs to be' the Giants' Breakout Candidate

The Giants are pinning their hopes on Likely, who could step out of Mark Andrews' massive shadow and into superstardom with Big Blue.

"The three-year, $40 million contract the Giants gave Likely was the richest handed out by the team in new coach John Harbaugh’s first offseason," Duggan wrote Monday. "No one batted an eye at the Giants making Likely the fourth highest-paid tight end in the league because his receiving talent is evident."

Likely should easily surpass his career-high 60 targets, which he set in his rookie season of 2022. His 6-4, 241-pound frame should make him a key red-zone contributor, though he has never had more than six touchdowns in any season.

The Ravens didn't need Likely to be more than that. But the Giants do.

"Likely never topped 42 catches or 477 yards in four seasons with the Ravens while operating in three-time Pro Bowler Mark Andrews’ shadow," Duggan wrote. "The team needs his production to match his compensation."

Jaxson Dart had Success With Tight Ends in 2025

Dart was successful using Theo Johnson, even though the Giants' TE1 in 2025 was brutally inefficient. Johnson had 528 yards and five touchdowns, which outpaced Likely in 2025 (307 yards, one touchdown).

But Dart struggled in the deep passing game in his rookie season. Likely is sure to be his best friend in the middle-of-the-field intermediate passing game.

First-year offensive coordinator Matt Nagy, who also had a pretty good tight end in Kansas City in Travis Kelce, will try to get Likely matchups against linebackers. But he may also deploy Likely on the outside against undersized DBs -- especially in the red zone.

Likely's presence inspires a lot of confidence. Now his play needs to back up that excitement.