It was a fabulous preseason for the New York Giants, as the team went unbeaten and outscored its opponents 107-47 across the three-game span. With it largely coming against backups, the dazzling performance should be taken with a grain of salt, but it's not nothing.
Big Blue still showed promise this summer, and Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen are finally setting the long-term foundation in East Rutherford. Jaxson Dart looks every bit like the quarterback of the future the regime was hoping for. The Giants’ run game has sparked with Tyrone Tracy and Cam Skattebo, and the defense is poised to be among the best in the NFL.
But amid all of that positive buzz, one player has managed to get lost in the conversation: second-year tight end Theo Johnson. The 2024 fourth-round pick caught 29 passes for 331 yards and a touchdown as a rookie. He could just be the team’s biggest breakout candidate entering Year 2, following a strong summer. Russell Wilson loves his tight ends, and the Penn State product is ready to capitalize.
Theo Johnson is the clear dark horse within the Giants’ offense
The 24-year-old has been quick to flash in the preseason, albeit in limited action with the starters. He caught a pair of passes in the opener against the Bills, but his main highlight came the following week against the Jets. On a sidearm screen pass from Dart, Johnson rumbled upfield for a 30-yard gain on the play.
The buzz around other aspects of the roster is warranted, but Johnson’s development may quietly be one of the most important storylines of 2025. Malik Nabers is the clear top option in the offense, but question marks linger behind him.
As the G-Men look to become one of the more pass-friendly offenses in football, the 6-foot-6, 250-pound tight end will have to fend off Wan’Dale Robinson, Jalin Hyatt, and Darius Slayton for targets.
But it’s that target competition that is only highlighting his ceiling. Unlike the receivers, he brings a physical mismatch that few defenses are built to handle. His size makes him a red-zone nightmare, and his 9.93 Relative Athleticism Score (RAS) allows Daboll to move him around the formation as both a blocker and pass-catcher.
While catching passes from Wilson in Seattle, Jimmy Graham made two Pro Bowls in three seasons and caught 10 touchdowns in 2017. And even last season in Pittsburgh, fellow Nittany Lion Pat Freiermuth recorded career-highs in receptions and receiving yards while tying his career-high in touchdowns.
Wilson has always elevated his tight ends, and Johnson has the tools to be the next in line. If his preseason flashes carry over, the Giants may have quietly found their X-factor for an offense that looks to surprise this year.