For a team that spent big on a tight end this offseason, the New York Giants are getting an early return that few predicted coming this fast. With star wide receiver Malik Nabers and veteran Darius Slayton both banged up, the Giants’ offense could have looked like a patchwork project. Instead, the unit is finding a new center of gravity—and it’s not a wideout.
Tight end Isaiah Likely, a longtime Baltimore Raven under now-Giants head coach John Harbaugh, is emerging as quarterback Jaxson Dart’s favorite target during spring practices. According to The Athletic’s Dan Duggan, Likely has been a constant in the passing game on open-field drills, especially on crossing routes where his athleticism stands out.
“Likely, who never had more than 477 yards receiving in four seasons in Baltimore, should be a featured piece of the Giants’ offense after seeing a career-low 36 targets last season,” Duggan wrote. “Likely was quarterback Jaxson Dart’s favorite target in open practices this spring, with the athletic tight end proving to be dangerous on crossing routes. Expect the Giants to manufacture touches for Likely on screens.”
The Giants inked Likely to a three-year, $40 million contract this offseason, a move that initially raised eyebrows given his inconsistent production with the Ravens. Over four seasons in Baltimore, Likely caught 135 passes for 1,568 yards and 15 touchdowns. His best season came in 2024 when he set career highs with 42 receptions for 477 yards and six scores. But 2025 was a letdown: just 27 grabs for 307 yards and a touchdown, per team stats.
Still, Harbaugh has seen enough to trust Likely as a key piece. The coach previously won a Super Bowl with the Ravens and clearly believes the tight end can be a difference maker in New York’s system. Early returns suggest that faith is well-placed. With Nabers and Slayton limited, Likely has stepped into a leading role and built chemistry with Dart that goes beyond just situational reps.
It’s not shocking that a veteran like Likely would stand out in a depleted receiving corps, but what matters is the timing. Developing a reliable connection between a quarterback and his primary pass catcher during the offseason is the kind of foundation that can carry into September. For a Giants team looking to rebound from a rough stretch, having Dart and Likely already synced up is a promising sign.
As the rest of the offseason unfolds, the Giants will likely continue leaning on Likely as a safety valve and a matchup problem. If his spring form carries into training camp, New York could have one of the more dangerous tight end duos in the NFC—and a quarterback who already knows where to look.
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