New York Giants fans patiently waited for the start of free agency, because this was their first glimpse at Head Coach John Harbaugh running the show. Harbaugh knows how to build a roster, as evidenced during his time with the Baltimore Ravens, and it would be key to see who he would bring in, especially on offense. After all, they need to build around quarterback Jaxson Dart.
Shortly after the free agency tampering window opened up, Harbaugh negotiated a deal with one of his former Ravens players. According to The Athletic NFL insider Dianna Russini, the Giants and former Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely agreed to terms on a three-year, $40 million contract, which can be worth up to $47.5 million.
It makes sense that Harbaugh would pull from the Ravens well to build out his roster in New York. But Likely is one of the top free agents in this year's class. So, what exactly does Likely bring to the Giants? Spoiler alert: it's great news for Dart.
Ravens expert explains why Isaiah Likely is perfect fit for Jaxson Dart
After speaking with Ravens expert for Ebony Bird, Connor Burke, Likely still has untapped potential as a playmaker.
"If you want an explosive playmaker at tight end, Isaiah Likely is your guy," says Burke. "He flashed as a matchup nightmare in his tenure in Baltimore, and while he never truly broke out, the signs are there for him to grow into a dominant starter. He took a step back last year, but that was partially due to a foot injury hampering his start to 2025. There’s reason to believe a bounce-back is coming."
If there was one thing that Dart was missing during his rookie year, it was an explosive playmaker in the passing game. Dart didn't even get to play a full game with star wide receiver Malik Nabers, who tore his ACL during the rookie quarterback's NFL debut. Even without Nabers, Dart was still able to keep the Giants in games.
Even with Nabers coming back, the Giants still needed to add to their passing attack. Likely does fit the bill for what the Giants are looking for, as he can bring down the football if thrown his way. There has been injury concerns as of late, as Burke mentions, suffered a foot injury that held to just 14 games (just seven starts). But look no further than the previous two seaons.
In 2023, Likely hauled in 30-of-40 targets for 411 yards and five touchdowns in 17 games. During the 2024 season, Likely recorded 42 catches for 477 yards and six touchdowns in 16 games.
Dart relied heavily on tight end Theo Johnson during his rookie year. Now, the Giants add another tight end for their quarterback in Likely, who carries more explosiveness than Johnson and can line up at any position on the field. Still, it's a good one-two punch for the Giants. While this is Harbaugh's team, it will be interesting to see how offensive coordinator Matt Nagy schemes things up for Likely.
Likely may not be the biggest name, but he is just what the Giants and Dart need entering a season where expectations are high.