Giants 'Banking' on Production From Isaiah Likely Despite Inconsistency

There is substantial hype among New York Giants fans about tight end Isaiah Likely.

Yet, there still are questions about how productive the high-priced former Baltimore Ravens tight end.

But the Giants are reportedly banking on Likely to produce in Year 1 of his three-year, $40 million contract, despite his 27-catch, 307-yard campaign in 2025.

Likely was in a tight-end timeshare with Mark Andrews, who of course is the most prolific pass catcher in Ravens history. Still, the 26-year-old has not even posted 500 receiving yards in a season and scored only one touchdown last season.

The Giants are 'Banking' on Isaiah Likely

Many fans remember Likely's career performance in Week 1 of the 2024 NFL season, where he had nine catches for 111 yards and a touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs.

But somehow the 6-4, 245-pound tight end has been largely absent since failing to keep his toe inbounds in Baltimore's 27-20 loss Sept. 5 that year.

Likely hasn't topped 100 yards in a game since and has only put up 75-plus yards in a game twice (2024 Week 11 vs the Steelers and 2025 Week 12 against the Bengals) since. He did battle a foot injury that hampered his early-season production in 2025.

So The Athletic's Dan Duggan spelled out why the Giants are putting their faith in Likely while offering high praise of the newly signed tight end.

"The optimism is fueled by Likely emerging from the shadow of Pro Bowl tight end Mark Andrews," Duggan wrote "Likely never garnered more than 60 targets in a season in Baltimore. That number should increase significantly as the Giants' most talented target behind [Malik] Nabers."

Calling Likely the most talented target behind the WR1 is quite a leap, especially given Likely's inconsistency. But it also is an indictment of the Giants' wideouts too.

Theo Johnson's 2025 Season Offers a Window Into Isaiah Likely's Potential

The Giants already have an inconsistent-but-athletic tight end in Theo Johnson.

But Johnson had 528 yards and five touchdowns in 2025, despite struggling amid a season where he finished with the 33rd-best grade of 35 qualifying tight ends, per Pro-Football Focus.

"His seven drops were tied for the league lead, and his 11.1 percent drop rate was the highest at his position," Duggan wrote. "His 60.8 percent catch rate was the lowest among 34 tight ends with enough targets to qualify."

Johnson is bigger physically, but fans can hope Johnson's ceiling while playing in the Giants offense serves as Likely's floor.

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This story was originally published July 10, 2026 at 5:24 PM.