We have officially found the understatement of the year: New York Giants tight end Isaiah Likely is very good at his job.
Pundits can say whatever they want about the injury-ravaged Giants amid their 3-2-1 start, but there’s no question that Likely has played at an elite level. He enters Sunday’s game against the Texans with 39 catches and 383 receiving yards, the latter of which leads all tight ends.
Regardless of which quarterback has thrown his way, the Coastal Carolina product has emerged as a legitimate weapon in Matt Nagy’s offense.
Not only do the Giants sit alone atop the NFC East, but they’re also watching arguably their most significant free-agent signing prove he’s worth every cent of his $12.5 million signing bonus.
New York Giants tight end Isaiah Likely is on pace to make franchise history
Just to put things in perspective, let’s look at what Likely’s final numbers could look like at his current pace:
Category | Isaiah Likely's current numbers | 17-game pace | Giants single-season record | Giants tight end single-season record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Catches | 39 | 111 | 109 (Malik Nabers, 2024) | Jeremy Shockey (74, 2002) |
Receiving yards | 393 | 1,085 | 1,536 (Victor Cruz, 2011) | 1,001 (Mark Bavaro, 1986) |
Yards per game | 63.8 | 63.8 | 108.8 (Odell Beckham Jr., 2014) | 72.3 (Mark Bavaro, 1987) |
Touchdowns | 5 | 14 | 13 (Odell Beckham Jr., 2015) | 9 (Aaron Thomas, 1967) |
Even those who bought a significant amount of Likely’s preseason stock didn’t see this coming. For what it’s worth, we previously said that him finishing with 60 catches and 600 yards would merit a successful year, and we were high on the fifth-year tight end all summer.
Whether he maintains this pace or not, Giants fans should be thrilled to see two legitimate pass-catching threats around Jaxson Dart moving forward.
Giants' Isaiah Likely could be on his way to All-Pro honors
You wouldn’t be wrong to think Likely’s projected numbers should put him in the mix for first-team All-Pro honors. Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride did it last year, catching 126 passes for 1,239 yards and 11 touchdowns on one of the league’s worst teams.
Whether the Giants’ relative team success — they’re one win away from matching last season’s four victories — will matter depends on the voter.
All signs point to Likely, McBride (49 catches, 361 yards, and three touchdowns), and the Raiders’ Brock Bowers (28 catches, 382 yards, and three touchdowns) battling for the first-team All-Pro tight end spot. Likely is on track to finish with the most touchdowns, and receiving yards will be up for grabs.
For those curious: Tiki Barber (2005) was the last Giants skill player to earn AP first-team All-Pro honors, and Bavaro (1986-87) and Shockey (2002) are the only tight ends who cracked the list.
And if you need another reason to laugh at Brian Daboll and the Titans, just know that Likely has more catches and receiving yards than ex-Giants teammates Wan’Dale Robinson and Daniel Bellinger do combined. Yep, that’ll do.
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