The New York Giants will open their 2026 training camp in less than two weeks, and all eyes will be on new head coach John Harbaugh, his staff, and the new players he’s brought in the door.
The offense will center around second-year quarterback Jaxson Dart, and all efforts will focus on his further development into a franchise quarterback.
As many of you know, a young quarterback’s best friend is a reliable tight end group, and the Giants believe they have that here this summer.
Here’s a quick preview of the Giants’ tight end room heading to camp.
Offensive coordinator Matt Nagy
Nagy is entering his first season as the Giants’ offensive coordinator and has traditionally used multiple tight-end formations at previous stops such as Kansas City and Chicago. He is most noted for his work with All-Pro Travis Kelce in his two stints with the Chiefs. The Giants will likely carry four tight ends under Nagy, and the group will consist of players of diverse talent and skill.
Tight ends coach Tim Kelly
Kelly served as the Giants’ interim offensive coordinator for the final seven games of the 2025 season. He has been the Giants’ tight ends coach since 2024 and is one of two holdovers (wide receiver coach Chad Hall is the other) from Brian Daboll’s offensive staff. Kelly is familiar with most of the players in the room and is highly regarded.
Isaiah Likely
The Giants signed Likely to a three-year, $40 million free-agent deal this past March, which immediately thrust him to the top of their depth chart. Likely began his career as a fourth-round pick of the Baltimore Ravens in 2022 out of Coastal Carolina. In his four seasons with the Ravens, he flashed and was consistent, but was basically the second option at the position behind Pro Bowler Mark Andrews.
The Giants feel that Likely can become a weapon as Nagy’s “U,” or receiving tight end, setting up shop in the slot and creating logistical mismatches for opposing defenses. He can also be used as a blocker, but the Giants have others who will do that. Likely and Dart have already shown a connection in early workouts this past spring.
Theo Johnson
Johnson has the size, the speed, and the body to become a top NFL tight end. The 2024 fourth-rounder out of Penn State took a step up in 2025 with 45 catches for 528 yards and five touchdowns and forged a bond with Dart. He can play both the in-line (“Y”) and slot (“U”) positions, increasing his value. His size makes him a nightmare for teams to deal with once he gets into their secondary. The prospect of having both Likely and Johnson on the field at the same time is an enticing one for both Nagy and Dart.
Chris Manhertz
The Giants brought back the Bronx native for a third season as their top blocking tight end. The 6-foot-6, 235-pound Manhertz is a reliable, stabilizing force to have on the field. He only has 30 receptions to his credit during his 10-year NFL career, but he can move people in short-yardage situations in both the run and pass games. He has played in 154 NFL games and missed just two since 2017.
Thomas Fidone and Tanner Connor
The Giants love Fidone, another 6-foot-6 guy who was a top prospect coming out of high school. He ended up at Nebraska but was recruited by Iowa, LSU, and Michigan. They took him in the seventh round of last year’s draft. Injuries have stunted his career, one that the Giants aren’t letting go of.
Connor was a UDFA out of Idaho State, signed by the Miami Dolphins in 2022. He spent the next four seasons with them, mainly on their practice squad. The Giants signed him to their own practice squad last December.
One of these two will likely end up on the roster and the other on the practice squad.
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: Giants training camp preview: Tight ends could define 2026 season
Reporting by John Fennelly, Giants Wire / Giants Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By John Fennelly, Giants Wire | USA TODAY Network
