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.
2 / 110
TE Daniel Bellinger (82)
Brennan Asplen/New York Football Giants
3 / 110
WR Dalen Cambre (5)
Brennan Asplen/New York Football Giants
4 / 110
QB Russell Wilson (3)
Brennan Asplen/New York Football Giants
5 / 110
WR Malik Nabers (1) and QB Russell Wilson (3)
Brennan Asplen/New York Football Giants
6 / 110
WR Dalen Cambre (5)
Brennan Asplen/New York Football Giants
7 / 110
WR Malik Nabers (1)
Brennan Asplen/New York Football Giants
8 / 110
S Jevón Holland (8) and CB Paulson Adebo (21)
Brennan Asplen/New York Football Giants
9 / 110
OLB Abdul Carter (51), OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) WR and OLB Brian Burns (0)
Brennan Asplen/New York Football Giants
10 / 110
CB Art Green (35)
Brennan Asplen/New York Football Giants
11 / 110
S Jevón Holland (8)
Brennan Asplen/New York Football Giants
12 / 110
RB Rushawn Baker (36)
Evan Pinkus / New York Football Giants
13 / 110
C Jimmy Morrissey (67)
Evan Pinkus / New York Football Giants
14 / 110
WR Dalen Cambre (5), CB Art Green (35)
Evan Pinkus / New York Football Giants
15 / 110
T James Hudson III (55), TE Theo Johnson (84)
Evan Pinkus / New York Football Giants
16 / 110
QB Russell Wilson (3)
Evan Pinkus / New York Football Giants
17 / 110
T James Hudson III (55), TE Theo Johnson (84)
Evan Pinkus / New York Football Giants
18 / 110
WR Beaux Collins (8)
Evan Pinkus / New York Football Giants
19 / 110
WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette (87)
Evan Pinkus / New York Football Giants
20 / 110
QB Russell Wilson (3)
Brennan Asplen/New York Football Giants
21 / 110
T James Hudson III (55), TE Theo Johnson (84)
Evan Pinkus / New York Football Giants
22 / 110
QB Tommy DeVito (15) and QB Jaxson Dart (6)
Brennan Asplen/New York Football Giants
23 / 110
QB Russell Wilson (3),RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)
Evan Pinkus / New York Football Giants
24 / 110
TE Daniel Bellinger (82)
Evan Pinkus / New York Football Giants
25 / 110
xx
Brennan Asplen/New York Football Giants
26 / 110
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
Brennan Asplen/New York Football Giants
27 / 110
DL Chauncey Golston (57)
Brennan Asplen/New York Football Giants
28 / 110
WR Dalen Cambre (5), CB TJ Moore (30)
Evan Pinkus / New York Football Giants
29 / 110
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
Evan Pinkus / New York Football Giants
30 / 110
TE Daniel Bellinger (82)
Evan Pinkus / New York Football Giants
31 / 110
WR Lil'Jordan Humphrey (81)
Brennan Asplen/New York Football Giants
32 / 110
WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton (88)
Brennan Asplen/New York Football Giants
33 / 110
C Jimmy Morrissey (67)
Brennan Asplen/New York Football Giants
34 / 110
T Evan Neal (73)
Brennan Asplen/New York Football Giants
35 / 110
C Jimmy Morrissey (67)
Brennan Asplen/New York Football Giants
36 / 110
S Jevón Holland (8)
Brennan Asplen/New York Football Giants
37 / 110
DL Chauncey Golston (57)
Brennan Asplen/New York Football Giants
38 / 110
ILB Darius Muasau (53)
Brennan Asplen/New York Football Giants
39 / 110
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
Brennan Asplen/New York Football Giants
40 / 110
S Jevón Holland (8)
Brennan Asplen/New York Football Giants
41 / 110
S Jevón Holland (8)
Brennan Asplen/New York Football Giants
42 / 110
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
Brennan Asplen/New York Football Giants
43 / 110
DL Chauncey Golston (57)
Brennan Asplen/New York Football Giants
44 / 110
WR Darius Slayton (18)
Brennan Asplen/New York Football Giants
45 / 110
CB Paulson Adebo (21)
Brennan Asplen/New York Football Giants
46 / 110
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
Brennan Asplen/New York Football Giants
47 / 110
S Jevón Holland (8) and CB Paulson Adebo (21)
Brennan Asplen/New York Football Giants
48 / 110
OLB Tomon Fox (45)
Brennan Asplen/New York Football Giants
49 / 110
OLB Tomon Fox (45)
Brennan Asplen/New York Football Giants
50 / 110
OLB Brian Burns (0)
Brennan Asplen/New York Football Giants
51 / 110
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
Brennan Asplen/New York Football Giants
52 / 110
OLB Brian Burns (0)
Brennan Asplen/New York Football Giants
53 / 110
S Jevón Holland (8) and S Tyler Nubin (27)
Brennan Asplen/New York Football Giants
54 / 110
OLB Brian Burns (0)
Brennan Asplen/New York Football Giants
55 / 110
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
Brennan Asplen/New York Football Giants
56 / 110
WR Darius Slayton (18)
Brennan Asplen/New York Football Giants
57 / 110
WR Malik Nabers (1)
Brennan Asplen/New York Football Giants
58 / 110
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
Brennan Asplen/New York Football Giants
59 / 110
WR Montrell Washington (80)
Brennan Asplen/New York Football Giants
60 / 110
WR Dalen Cambre (5)
Brennan Asplen/New York Football Giants
61 / 110
WR Juice Wells Jr. (2)
Brennan Asplen/New York Football Giants
62 / 110
WR Dalen Cambre (5)
Brennan Asplen/New York Football Giants
63 / 110
WR Malik Nabers (1)
Brennan Asplen/New York Football Giants
64 / 110
S Jevón Holland (8)
Brennan Asplen/New York Football Giants
65 / 110
QB Jaxson Dart (6), WR Malik Nabers (1)
Evan Pinkus / New York Football Giants
66 / 110
RB Dante Miller (25)
Evan Pinkus / New York Football Giants
67 / 110
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
Brennan Asplen/New York Football Giants
68 / 110
K Graham Gano (9)
Evan Pinkus / New York Football Giants
69 / 110
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
Brennan Asplen/New York Football Giants
70 / 110
QB Russell Wilson (3)
Evan Pinkus / New York Football Giants
71 / 110
OLB Abdul Carter (51), Brian Daboll
Evan Pinkus / New York Football Giants
72 / 110
OLB Brian Burns (0),OLB Abdul Carter (51)
Evan Pinkus / New York Football Giants
73 / 110
TE Jermaine Terry II (48)
Brennan Asplen/New York Football Giants
74 / 110
WR Montrell Washington (80)
Evan Pinkus / New York Football Giants
75 / 110
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
Evan Pinkus / New York Football Giants
76 / 110
) K Jude McAtamney (99)
Evan Pinkus / New York Football Giants
77 / 110
P Jamie Gillan (6)
Evan Pinkus / New York Football Giants
78 / 110
T Jermaine Eluemunor (72)
Evan Pinkus / New York Football Giants
79 / 110
QB Russell Wilson (3),WR Jalin Hyatt (13)
Evan Pinkus / New York Football Giants
80 / 110
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
Evan Pinkus / New York Football Giants
81 / 110
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)
Evan Pinkus / New York Football Giants
82 / 110
ILB Dyontae Johnson (54)
Evan Pinkus / New York Football Giants
83 / 110
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
Evan Pinkus / New York Football Giants
84 / 110
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)
Evan Pinkus / New York Football Giants
85 / 110
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)
Evan Pinkus / New York Football Giants
86 / 110
OLB Tomon Fox (45)
Evan Pinkus / New York Football Giants
87 / 110
DL Chauncey Golston (57)
Evan Pinkus / New York Football Giants
88 / 110
S Tyler Nubin (27)
Evan Pinkus / New York Football Giants
89 / 110
Brian Daboll
Evan Pinkus / New York Football Giants
90 / 110
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
Evan Pinkus / New York Football Giants
91 / 110
QB Jameis Winston (19),RB Dante Miller (25)
Evan Pinkus / New York Football Giants
92 / 110
WR Juice Wells Jr. (2)
Evan Pinkus / New York Football Giants
93 / 110
RB Devin Singletary (26)
Evan Pinkus / New York Football Giants
94 / 110
QB Jameis Winston (19)
Evan Pinkus / New York Football Giants
95 / 110
WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette (87)
Evan Pinkus / New York Football Giants
96 / 110
WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton (88)
Evan Pinkus / New York Football Giants
97 / 110
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
Evan Pinkus / New York Football Giants
98 / 110
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
Evan Pinkus / New York Football Giants
99 / 110
CB Korie Black (25)
Evan Pinkus / New York Football Giants
100 / 110
WR Dalen Cambre (5), QB Jaxson Dart (6)
Evan Pinkus / New York Football Giants
101 / 110
OLB Brian Burns (0),T Jermaine Eluemunor (72)
Evan Pinkus / New York Football Giants
102 / 110
OLB Trace Ford (46)
Evan Pinkus / New York Football Giants
103 / 110
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
Evan Pinkus / New York Football Giants
104 / 110
Quaterbacks huddle, QB Russell Wilson (3),QB Jameis Winston (19)
Evan Pinkus / New York Football Giants
105 / 110
S Tyler Nubin (27)
Evan Pinkus / New York Football Giants
106 / 110
Roy Robertson-Harris (95)
Evan Pinkus / New York Football Giants
107 / 110
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
Evan Pinkus / New York Football Giants
108 / 110
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
Evan Pinkus / New York Football Giants
109 / 110
Quaterbacks huddle, QB Russell Wilson (3),QB Jameis Winston (19)
Evan Pinkus / New York Football Giants
110 / 110
WR Dalen Cambre (5), QB Jaxson Dart (6)
Evan Pinkus / New York Football Giants
2 / 54
DL Darius Alexander - Selection List Signing (June 2)
3 / 54
QB Jaxson Dart - Selection List Signing (May 30)
4 / 54
OLB Abdul Carter - Selection List Signing (May 22)
5 / 54
WR Lil'Jordan Humphrey - Free Agent Signing (May 12)
6 / 54
CB T.J. Moore - Free Agent Signing (May 12)
7 / 54
DB R.J. Delancy III - Waived, No Recall (May 12)
8 / 54
DB Tommy McCormick - Waived, No Recall (May 12)
9 / 54
OL Marcus Mbow - Selection List Signing (May 9)
10 / 54
TE Thomas Fidone II - Selection List Signing (May 9)
11 / 54
CB Korie Black - Selection List Signing (May 9)
12 / 54
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)
13 / 54
WR Lil'Jordan Humphrey - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (May 9)
14 / 54
DL Casey Rogers - Waived, No Recall (May 8)
15 / 54
CB Korie Black - Selected in the 7th Round of 2025 NFL Draft (No. 246 overall) (April 26)
16 / 54
TE Thomas Fidone II - Selected in the 7th Round of 2025 NFL Draft (No. 219 overall) (April 26)
17 / 54
OL Marcus Mbow - Selected in the 5th Round of 2025 NFL Draft (No. 154 overall) (April 26)
18 / 54
RB Cam Skattebo - Selected in the 4th Round of 2025 NFL Draft (No. 105 overall) (April 26)
19 / 54
DL Darius Alexander - Selected in the 3rd Round of 2025 NFL Draft (No. 65 overall) (April 25)
20 / 54
QB Jaxson Dart - Selected in the 1st Round of 2025 NFL Draft (No. 25 overall) (April 24)
21 / 54
LB Abdul Carter - Selected in the 1st Round of 2025 NFL Draft (No. 3 overall) (April 24)
22 / 54
DT Ross Blacklock - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (April 15)
23 / 54
QB Jameis Winston - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 31)
24 / 54
LB Ty Summers - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 31)
25 / 54
QB Russell Wilson - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 26)
26 / 54
ILB Dyontae Johnson - Exclusive Rights Signing (March 26)
27 / 54
WR Zach Pascal - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 25)
28 / 54
OL Aaron Stinnie - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 25)
29 / 54
OLB Victor Dimukeje - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 21)
30 / 54
WR Lil'Jordan Humphrey - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 21)
31 / 54
OL Greg Van Roten - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 19)
32 / 54
DL Jeremiah Ledbetter - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 18)
33 / 54
LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles - Free Agent Signing (March 17)
34 / 54
CB Paulson Adebo - Free Agent Signing (March 13)
35 / 54
S Jevón Holland - Free Agent Signing (March 13)
36 / 54
WR Darius Slayton - Free Agent Signing (March 13)
37 / 54
DL Chauncey Golston - Free Agent Signing (March 13)
38 / 54
OL James Hudson III - Free Agent Signing (March 13)
39 / 54
LB Chris Board - Free Agent Signing (March 13)
40 / 54
OL Stone Forsythe - Free Agent Signing (March 13)
41 / 54
WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette - Re-signed (March 12)
42 / 54
DT Roy Robertson-Harris - Free Agent Signing (March 10)
43 / 54
P Jamie Gillan - Re-signed (March 8)
44 / 54
TE Chris Manhertz - Re-signed (March 8)
45 / 54
QB Tommy DeVito - Re-signed (March 8)
46 / 54
OLB Tomon Fox - Re-signed (March 7)
47 / 54
LS Casey Kreiter - Re-signed (March 5)
48 / 54
WR Montrell Washington - Free Agent Signing (February 14)
49 / 54
CB Nic Jones - Free Agent Signing (February 14)
50 / 54
DT Ross Blacklock - Reserve/Future (January 6)
51 / 54
C Bryan Hudson - Reserve/Future (January 6)
52 / 54
K Jude McAtamney - Reserve/Future (January 6)
53 / 54
C Jimmy Morrissey - Reserve/Future (January 6)
54 / 54
DT Casey Rogers - Reserve/Future (January 6)
English (US) ·