The New York Giants have made the coaching splash that all of their fans have been waiting for. After consistently being one of the worst teams in the NFL over the past decade, the Giants have hired an experienced head coach with plenty of wins on his resume. That coach is John Harbaugh, and he will be tasked with bringing the Giants back to relevance.
The Giants also appear to have found a legitimate answer at quarterback in Jaxson Dart. Now, Harbaugh’s first major challenge is building a supporting cast capable of accelerating the young signal-caller’s development.
Giants Predicted To Reunite John Harbaugh With Star Tight End
New York already boasts a promising wide receiver duo in Malik Nabers and Wan’Dale Robinson, with the latter recording 1,014 receiving yards in 2025. However, the tight end room remains thin beyond Theo Johnson, making offensive balance a priority for Harbaugh as he installs his system.
That approach could lead Harbaugh to a familiar solution. PFSN analyst Ryan Guthrie predicts the Giants will target Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely in free agency, recreating the Mark Andrews–Isiah Likely dynamic Harbaugh oversaw in Baltimore.
“Likely follows John Harbaugh to New York,” Guthrie wrote. “Harbaugh loves tight ends, and Isaiah Likely gives rookie Jaxson Dart another reliable weapon. Paired with Theo Johnson, the Giants could recreate the Andrews–Likely dynamic that worked so well in Baltimore.”
Likely was expected to emerge as Baltimore’s TE1 this season, but injuries slowed his momentum while Andrews once again thrived, earning a three-year extension that placed Likely’s long-term future with the Ravens in doubt. So far in his career, Likely has accumulated 15 total touchdowns.
Now set to hit free agency, Likely remains an intriguing option for teams seeking a versatile pass-catching tight end. His best season came in 2024, when he recorded 42 receptions for 477 yards and 6 touchdowns. Although 2025 was viewed as a disappointment, finishing with 307 yards and one score, health played a significant role, and he still ranked 29th in PFSN’s NFL Tight End Impact Metric.
Spotrac projects Likely to command a contract north of $9 million annually, a figure the Giants should be able to accommodate. At just 25 years old, he still offers upside and familiarity with Harbaugh’s system.
If Likely does land in New York, Dart would gain another dependable target in the middle of the field, strengthening the offense and accelerating his growth heading into his sophomore season. With Harbaugh leading the way, the Giants are betting that moves like this can finally lift them out of the NFC East cellar.
