Fox Sports picks Theo Johnson as 2025 breakout candidate
When it comes to the Giants' offense, it's no secret that Malik Nabers is the No. 1 option in the passing game.
But who might step up this season as the next top option?
According to Fox Sports' David Helman, it could be tight end Theo Johnson.
Helman recently chose a breakout candidate from each team across the league, and when it came to the Giants, he went with the second-year tight end.
"Fun as he might be, you can't build the entire plane out of Malik Nabers," wrote Helman. "He's a bona fide star and he's going to catch 100 balls this year, but Russell Wilson will need to find at least one or two other reliable targets. Johnson just might fit the bill after a promising rookie season. This is a dude with far better speed and athleticism than his 264-pound frame might suggest, and he's shown the ability to stretch the field down the seam. Pat Freiermuth led the Steelers in receptions last season, so I don't think Wilson will struggle to get him the ball if he lives up to his rookie potential."
Johnson finished his rookie season with 29 receptions for 331 yards and a touchdown across just 12 games. The yards ranked third among rookie tight ends, while his 29 receptions ranked fourth.
The young tight end was starting to pick things up before suffering his season-ending foot injury on Thanksgiving. Johnson registered 35+ receiving yards in each of his last five games, including a season-high five receptions for 54 yards in his final outing.
The 6-foot-6 tight end had compiled 50+ receiving yards in two of his final four contests.
As the article states, Pittsburgh's Pat Freiermuth put together the best season of his NFL career last year with Wilson under center for most of it. The Steelers tight end finished with a team-high 65 receptions, which was also a new personal high mark for Freiermuth, for 653 yards and seven touchdowns. Of those stats, 43 receptions for 459 yards and five touchdowns came from Wilson in his 11 starts.
See all of the action from Giants Minicamp at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center.
WR Darius Slayton (18),WR Malik Nabers (1),OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) WR Dalen Cambre (5),WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17),WR Montrell Washington (80),WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette (87),K Graham Gano (9) WR Da'Quan Felton (9),WR Lil'Jordan Humphrey (81),WR Juice Wells Jr. (2),WR Jalin Hyatt (13)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
S Dane Belton (24)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
DL Dexter Lawrence II (97)
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)
DL Chauncey Golston (57)
WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette (87)
S Makari Paige (38)
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DL Rakeem Nuñez-Roches (93)
OL Jaison Williams (68),OL Marcus Mbow (71),G Jon Runyan Jr. (76),G Austin Schlottmann (65),C John Michael Schmitz Jr. (61), C Bryan Hudson (60), G Aaron Stinnie (64),G Greg Van Roten (74) T James Hudson III (55),T Stone Forsythe (70)T Evan Neal (73),C Jimmy Morrissey (67), T Jermaine Eluemunor (72)
RB Eric Gray (20)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
TE Daniel Bellinger (82)
WR Dalen Cambre (5)
QB Russell Wilson (3)
WR Malik Nabers (1) and QB Russell Wilson (3)
WR Dalen Cambre (5)
WR Malik Nabers (1)
S Jevón Holland (8) and CB Paulson Adebo (21)
OLB Abdul Carter (51), OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) WR and OLB Brian Burns (0)
CB Art Green (35)
S Jevón Holland (8)
RB Rushawn Baker (36)
C Jimmy Morrissey (67)
WR Dalen Cambre (5), CB Art Green (35)
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QB Russell Wilson (3)
T James Hudson III (55), TE Theo Johnson (84)
WR Beaux Collins (8)
WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette (87)
QB Russell Wilson (3)
T James Hudson III (55), TE Theo Johnson (84)
QB Tommy DeVito (15) and QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Russell Wilson (3),RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)
TE Daniel Bellinger (82)
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OLB Abdul Carter (51)
DL Chauncey Golston (57)
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WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
TE Daniel Bellinger (82)
WR Lil'Jordan Humphrey (81)
WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton (88)
C Jimmy Morrissey (67)
T Evan Neal (73)
C Jimmy Morrissey (67)
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DL Chauncey Golston (57)
ILB Darius Muasau (53)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
S Jevón Holland (8)
S Jevón Holland (8)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
DL Chauncey Golston (57)
WR Darius Slayton (18)
CB Paulson Adebo (21)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
S Jevón Holland (8) and CB Paulson Adebo (21)
OLB Tomon Fox (45)
OLB Tomon Fox (45)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
S Jevón Holland (8) and S Tyler Nubin (27)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
WR Darius Slayton (18)
WR Malik Nabers (1)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
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WR Dalen Cambre (5)
WR Juice Wells Jr. (2)
WR Dalen Cambre (5)
WR Malik Nabers (1)
S Jevón Holland (8)
QB Jaxson Dart (6), WR Malik Nabers (1)
RB Dante Miller (25)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
K Graham Gano (9)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
QB Russell Wilson (3)
OLB Abdul Carter (51), Brian Daboll
OLB Brian Burns (0),OLB Abdul Carter (51)
TE Jermaine Terry II (48)
WR Montrell Washington (80)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
) K Jude McAtamney (99)
P Jamie Gillan (6)
T Jermaine Eluemunor (72)
QB Russell Wilson (3),WR Jalin Hyatt (13)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)
ILB Dyontae Johnson (54)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)
OLB Tomon Fox (45)
DL Chauncey Golston (57)
S Tyler Nubin (27)
Brian Daboll
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
QB Jameis Winston (19),RB Dante Miller (25)
WR Juice Wells Jr. (2)
RB Devin Singletary (26)
QB Jameis Winston (19)
WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette (87)
WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton (88)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
CB Korie Black (25)
WR Dalen Cambre (5), QB Jaxson Dart (6)
OLB Brian Burns (0),T Jermaine Eluemunor (72)
OLB Trace Ford (46)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
Quaterbacks huddle, QB Russell Wilson (3),QB Jameis Winston (19)
S Tyler Nubin (27)
Roy Robertson-Harris (95)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
Quaterbacks huddle, QB Russell Wilson (3),QB Jameis Winston (19)
WR Dalen Cambre (5), QB Jaxson Dart (6)
OLB Coach Charlie Bullen
ILB Dyontae Johnson (54), LB Chris Board (49) and ILB Ty Summers (47)
S Dane Belton (24)
S Makari Paige (38)
OLB Trace Ford (46)
RB Eric Gray (20)
DL Dexter Lawrence II (97)
DL Dexter Lawrence II (97)
S Dane Belton (24)
OLB Tomon Fox (45)
OLB Trace Ford (46)
WR Darius Slayton (18),WR Malik Nabers (1),OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) WR Dalen Cambre (5),WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17),WR Montrell Washington (80),WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette (87),K Graham Gano (9) WR Da'Quan Felton (9),WR Lil'Jordan Humphrey (81),WR Juice Wells Jr. (2),WR Jalin Hyatt (13)
WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette (87)
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)
View every move made by the New York Giants during the 2025 cycle.
DB LaMareon James - Practice Squad (September 17)
DB Dee Williams - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (September 17)
LB Swayze Bozeman - Free Agent Signing from NYG Practice Squad (September 16)
LB Chris Board - Reserve/Injured (September 16)
LB Neville Hewitt - Practice Squad Veteran (September 16)
LB Curtis Jacobs - Practice Squad Exception (September 16)
WR Dalen Cambre - Practice Squad (September 16)
TE Qadir Ismail - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (September 16)
DB Patrick McMorris - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (September 16)
DL Elijah Garcia - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 13)
LB Swayze Bozeman - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 13)
WR Xavier Gipson - Claimed off Waivers from NYJ (September 11)
ILB Micah McFadden - Reserve/Injured (September 11)
CB Tre Hawkins III - Waived, No Recall from Reserve/Injured (September 9)
T Reid Holskey - Practice Squad (September 8)
G McClendon Curtis - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (September 8)
DL Elijah Garcia - Activated from Practice Squad/Standard Elevation (Sept. 6)
WR Gunner Olszewski - Free Agent Signing (August 29)
CB Rico Payton - Reserve/Injured (August 29)
LB Zaire Barnes - Practice Squad (August 29)
G McClendon Curtis - Practice Squad (August 29)
OLB Trace Ford - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (August 29)
LB Swayze Bozeman, TE Qadir Ismail, DB Patrick McMorris - Practice Squad (August 28)
S Beau Brade - Claimed off Waivers from BAL (August 27)
CB Rico Payton - Claimed off Waivers from NOR (August 27)
CB Korie Black - Waived, No Recall (August 27)
WR Gunner Olszewski - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 27)
WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette - Practice Squad Veteran (August 27)
WR Lil'Jordan Humphrey - Practice Squad Veteran (August 27)
K Jude McAtamney - International Practice Player Signing (August 27)
OLB Trace Ford, DL Elijah Garcia, OL Bryan Hudson, G Jake Kubas, S Raheem Layne, RB Dante Miller - Practice Squad (August 27)
DL Elijah Chatman, OLB Tomon Fox, DL Jordon Riley, CB Dee Williams - Practice Squad Exception (August 27)
OL Joshua Ezeudu - Reserve/Injured / Designated for Return (August 26)
RB Eric Gray - Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform (August 26)
OLB Victor Dimukeje - Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform (August 26)
WR Da'Quan Felton, CB Tre Hawkins, TE Jermaine Terry - Waived, Injured (August 26)
T Stone Forsythe, WR Lil'Jordan Humphrey, DL Jeremiah Ledbetter, WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette, RB Jonathan Ward - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 26)
WR Dalen Cambre, DL Elijah Chatman, QB Tommy DeVito, TE Greg Dulcich, DL Cory Durden, OLB Trace Ford, OLB Tomon Fox, DL Elijah Garcia, OL Bryan Hudson, G Jake Kubas, S Raheem Layne, K Jude McAtamney, RB Dante Miller, S Makari Paige, DL Jordon Riley, WR Antwane Wells, DB Dee Williams - Waived, No Recall (August 26)
CB TJ Moore - Reserve/Injured (August 24)
S K'Von Wallace - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 24)
WR Zach Pascal - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 22)
WR Jordan Bly, ILB K.J. Cloyd, CB O'Donnell Fortune, ILB Dyontae Johnson, C Jimmy Morrissey, WR Montrell Washington, OL Jaison Williams - Waived, No Recall (August 22)
T Andrew Thomas - Passed Physical (August 19)
LB K.J. Cloyd - Free Agent Signing (August 4)
RB Jonathan Ward - Free Agent Signing (August 4)
LB Ty Summers - Reserve/Injured (August 4)
RB Rushawn Baker - Waived, Injured (August 4)
WR Gunner Olszewski - Free Agent Signing (July 28)
WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton - Reserve/Injured (July 28)
S K'Von Wallace - Free Agent Signing (July 22)
DB Anthony Johnson - Waived, Injured (July 22)
T Andrew Thomas - Declared Physically Unable to Perform (July 22)
RB Eric Gray - Declared Physically Unable to Perform (July 22)
OLB Victor Dimukeje - Declared Non-Football Injury (July 22)
Giants receive 2026 sixth-round draft pick from Dolphins in exchange for conditional 2027 seventh-round selection and TE Darren Waller (July 7)
RB Cam Skattebo - Selection List Signing (June 18)
DL Darius Alexander - Selection List Signing (June 2)
QB Jaxson Dart - Selection List Signing (May 30)
OLB Abdul Carter - Selection List Signing (May 22)
WR Lil'Jordan Humphrey - Free Agent Signing (May 12)
CB T.J. Moore - Free Agent Signing (May 12)
DB R.J. Delancy III - Waived, No Recall (May 12)
DB Tommy McCormick - Waived, No Recall (May 12)
OL Marcus Mbow - Selection List Signing (May 9)
TE Thomas Fidone II - Selection List Signing (May 9)
CB Korie Black - Selection List Signing (May 9)
RB Rushawn Baker, WR Jordan Bly, WR Dalen Cambre, WR Beaux Collins, DB R.J. Delancey, WR Da'Quan Felton, OLB Trace Ford, DB O'Donnell Fortune, DB Tommy McCormick, DB Makari Paige, TE Jermaine Terry, WR Antwane Wells, OL Jaison Williams - Free Agent Signing (May 9)
WR Lil'Jordan Humphrey - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (May 9)
DL Casey Rogers - Waived, No Recall (May 8)
CB Korie Black - Selected in the 7th Round of 2025 NFL Draft (No. 246 overall) (April 26)
TE Thomas Fidone II - Selected in the 7th Round of 2025 NFL Draft (No. 219 overall) (April 26)
OL Marcus Mbow - Selected in the 5th Round of 2025 NFL Draft (No. 154 overall) (April 26)
RB Cam Skattebo - Selected in the 4th Round of 2025 NFL Draft (No. 105 overall) (April 26)
DL Darius Alexander - Selected in the 3rd Round of 2025 NFL Draft (No. 65 overall) (April 25)
QB Jaxson Dart - Selected in the 1st Round of 2025 NFL Draft (No. 25 overall) (April 24)
LB Abdul Carter - Selected in the 1st Round of 2025 NFL Draft (No. 3 overall) (April 24)
DT Ross Blacklock - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (April 15)
QB Jameis Winston - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 31)
LB Ty Summers - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 31)
QB Russell Wilson - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 26)
ILB Dyontae Johnson - Exclusive Rights Signing (March 26)
WR Zach Pascal - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 25)
OL Aaron Stinnie - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 25)
OLB Victor Dimukeje - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 21)
WR Lil'Jordan Humphrey - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 21)
OL Greg Van Roten - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 19)
DL Jeremiah Ledbetter - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 18)
LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles - Free Agent Signing (March 17)
CB Paulson Adebo - Free Agent Signing (March 13)
S Jevón Holland - Free Agent Signing (March 13)
WR Darius Slayton - Free Agent Signing (March 13)
DL Chauncey Golston - Free Agent Signing (March 13)
OL James Hudson III - Free Agent Signing (March 13)
LB Chris Board - Free Agent Signing (March 13)
OL Stone Forsythe - Free Agent Signing (March 13)
WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette - Re-signed (March 12)
DT Roy Robertson-Harris - Free Agent Signing (March 10)
P Jamie Gillan - Re-signed (March 8)
TE Chris Manhertz - Re-signed (March 8)
QB Tommy DeVito - Re-signed (March 8)
OLB Tomon Fox - Re-signed (March 7)
LS Casey Kreiter - Re-signed (March 5)
WR Montrell Washington - Free Agent Signing (February 14)
CB Nic Jones - Free Agent Signing (February 14)
DT Ross Blacklock - Reserve/Future (January 6)
C Bryan Hudson - Reserve/Future (January 6)
K Jude McAtamney - Reserve/Future (January 6)
C Jimmy Morrissey - Reserve/Future (January 6)
DT Casey Rogers - Reserve/Future (January 6)
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