NYG Kyle Likely
NFL player. Position: TE. Team: NYG.
Quick Facts
- Position: TE
- Team: NYG (New York Giants)
- Previous team: Baltimore Ravens (2022-2025)
- Contract: Signed 3-year, $40M deal ($40M in guaranteed money) with Giants in 2026 offseason
2026 Outlook
Likely signed a 3-year, $40M contract with the New York Giants as a free agent in 2026, stepping into a starting role after spending four seasons as a backup to Mark Andrews in Baltimore's run-heavy system. Over 63 games (26 starts) with the Ravens, he averaged 11.6 yards per reception career-wide—a strong baseline efficiency metric that positions him for breakout potential in a new opportunity.
The Giants project as skewing similarly run-heavy to Baltimore with QBs Jaxson Dart and Cam Skattebo leading the offense, reducing overall pass volume. However, Likely won't face competition for playing time; his three-year, $40M guarantee locks him as the starter. Theo Johnson remains as a depth piece but won't threaten meaningful reps.
2026 Giants tight end situation: New York targets tight ends at a projected 6.4 times per game across Dart's starts (sample from 12 games). Extrapolating Likely's career 11.6 YPR average over that target volume yields ~75 receptions, 870 yards, and strong touchdown potential if he cracks the red-zone role. Comparatively, his four Ravens seasons saw limited opportunity: 21 games under 3 targets, while just 5 games exceeded 7 targets. The Giants' investment signals clear intent to feature him, creating a potential career-year opportunity.
Fantasy outlook: Likely projects as a TE1 (top-10 tight end) if the Giants' run-heavy system still generates 80+ targets and he converts red-zone opportunities into 4-5 TDs. The risk: if Giants fall far behind early, pass volume could spike unpredictably, or if Dart's accuracy remains poor, target efficiency suffers. Floor is TE2 range with consistent weekly touches; ceiling is top-5 TE if TD efficiency improves over his Ravens baseline (per Ranking top fantasy football breakout candidates for 2026).
Role / Depth Chart
Starting tight end for Giants following 3-year, $40M free agent signing. After four years as Mark Andrews' backup in Baltimore, Likely steps into a featured role with no strong competition for snaps. Theo Johnson backing him up but unlikely to see meaningful reps in year-one.
Injury Status
Healthy.
Recent News
Open Questions
- Will Kyle Likely's 11.6 YPR average translate in a run-heavy Giants offense with limited receiving weapons?
- Can Likely establish himself as a red-zone target for Jaxson Dart despite 4 years of limited TD opportunities in Baltimore?