When outlets publish the inevitable listicles about the best and worst NFL moves from this past offseason, you can already pencil New York Giants tight end Isaiah Likely among the top free-agent signings.
Likely continued his phenomenal season with nine catches, a career-high 127 yards, and a touchdown in Thursday’s crushing loss to the rival Washington Commanders. He’s already set career-bests in every major receiving category and ranks among the league’s premier receiving tight ends.
A few weeks back, we looked at Likely’s stats through six games and the historic pace he’d set for himself. With another three games in the books, let’s revisit the same four categories — catches, receiving yards, yards per game, and touchdowns — to see where he’s at following Thursday’s loss.
Veteran tight end Isaiah Likely remains on pace to make New York Giants history
There’s playing up to the standards required of a three-year, $40 million contract, and then you have what Likely has done through nine games:
Category | Isaiah Likely's current numbers | 17-game pace | Giants single-season record | Giants tight end single-season record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Catches | 55 | 104 | 109 (Malik Nabers, 2024) | Jeremy Shockey (74, 2002) |
Receiving yards | 575 | 1,086 | 1,536 (Victor Cruz, 2011) | 1,001 (Mark Bavaro, 1986) |
Yards per game | 63.9 | 63.9 | 108.8 (Odell Beckham Jr., 2014) | 72.3 (Mark Bavaro, 1987) |
Touchdowns | 7 | 13 | 13 (Odell Beckham Jr., 2015) | 9 (Aaron Thomas, 1967) |
Likely continues to strengthen his All-Pro case, and he’d be in exclusive company if all works out. Bavaro (1986-87) and Shockey (2002) are the only Giants tight ends to earn All-Pro honors, and no skill player has achieved the feat since Tiki Barber in 2005.
Barring injuries, the first-team All-Pro tight end spot will likely come down to Likely and Arizona’s Trey McBride, who received the title last year. McBride has the heavy lead in receptions (73) and narrowly has the advantage in receiving yards (598) entering Sunday’s clash with the NFC West rival Rams.
That said, we’ll see whether voters factor team success into their ballots. Arizona is 3-6 and turning to rookie Carson Beck following Gardner Minshew’s elbow injury. The Giants (5-3-1) still sit atop the NFC East and have an excellent chance to claim their first division title since 2011.
Even if we're not factoring in team success, Arizona's switch to Beck could result in a less efficient passing offense and less production for McBride.
McBride and Likely each had seven catches in the Giants’ 36-24 victory on Oct. 4, though the latter finished with 66 yards to McBride’s 31, so do with that what you will.
We’re also not ruling out the Raiders’ Brock Bowers, who has 48 catches for 658 yards (No. 10 league-wide) and six touchdowns in seven games. His candidacy rests on Fernando Mendoza’s arm, and the No. 1 pick will make his first start against the Seahawks on Sunday.
At the very least, Likely has established himself in the top tier of NFL tight ends this season.
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