Can Theo Johnson be what the Giants think he can?
The New York Giants drafted Theo Johnson in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft hoping he would develop into a pass-catching weapon and all-around quality tight end.
Even though he may not have been fully ready for the responsibility, the Giants committed to Johnson’s development by starting him from Day 1 last season. Johnson began to reward the Giants’ faith over his final five games of 2024, catching at least three passes in each and totaling 18 receptions in that time.
Unfortunately for Johnson and the Giants, his season was cut short due to a Lisfranc injury that cost Johnson the final five games.
The biggest question for the Giants at tight end is whether or not the 6-foot-6, 264-pound Johnson can pick up where he left off, or if the Lisfranc injury is going to set his progress back.
Johnson admitted on the ‘Giants Huddle’ podcast this spring that the timing of the injury was unfortunate as he felt he was settling in as an NFL player.
“I felt it coming on the more comfortable I got,” Johnson said. “Just feeling what it’s like to be in my groove, now having an idea like I’ve got this many games under my belt, this is what it’s gotta look like. Just as it was like I could really finish on a high note this year, the injury happened, which was super discouraging. But encouraging at the same time, because it was like, now I know I’m going to have a full offseason to kind of prepare and figure things out. I definitely felt like I was catching on at the right time. Unfortunately, the injury kind of put a hold on that.”
Johnson finished the 2024 season with 29 receptions for 334 yards (11.4 yards per catch) with a touchdown. He did drop five passes, a high drop rate of 11.6%.
Pre-2024 draft scouting reports on Johnson, including one by BBV’s Chris Pflum, questioned whether Johnson could become a primary tight end at the NFL level. Judging from the way they used him the Giants believe he can. If they are right, Johnson would provide an excellent middle of the field weapon for whoever is at quarterback for the Giants, and at 264 pounds blocking help for the running game.
Other questions
Can Daniel Bellinger be more than an afterthought?
A fourth-round pick out of San Diego State in 2022, Bellinger showed potential as a rookie. He started 11 of the 12 games in which he played and caught 35 passes, with a success rate of 68.6% and a passer rating when targeted of 117.6.
Since then, though, Bellinger has barely been a factor for the Giants on offense.
The acquisition of Darren Waller in 2023 pushed him to the background. He caught just 25 passes, almost all in the second half of the season after Waller was injured.
In 2024, the drafting of Johnson as a pass catcher and the signing of Chris Manhertz as the primary blocking tight end pushed Bellinger even farther down the pecking order. He caught just 14 passes and played just 365 snaps (32%), the fewest of his three-year career.
Bellinger is not as dynamic as Johnson, nor is he as good a blocker as Manhertz. But, he is a reliable player who is a decent run blocker and catches what comes his way, having dropped just two passes in 80 career targets (2.5%).
The Giants can, and should, find a way to make better use of him.
Can Thomas Fidone make the 53-man roster?
Unless the Giants do something this summer that seems unlikely, like deciding to move on from either Bellinger or Manhertz, that might come down to whether or not they decide to keep four tight ends.
Fidone has good size at 6-foot-6, 255 pounds, excellent athleticism, and an intriguing skillset. The Giants may have drafted him with the long term in mind, considering that Bellinger is in the final year of his rookie contract and Manhertz at 33 is unlikely to be a Giant much longer.
Here is a pre-draft scouting report from NFL.com:
Fidone is long and linear with impressive athleticism but just two years of game experience due to injuries over his first two seasons. He’s a willing blocker with pretty good technique but needs to add strength to handle the work in-line. He needs to become more elusive with his release and more physical at the catch point, but he’s fast and fluid through his routes. He has the ability to uncover and stress the defense beyond the first level. Fidone’s effort, athleticism and ability to improve a passing game give him a chance to become a TE2 in the NFL.
If the Giants try to pass Fidone to the practice squad to begin the season, they risk losing him on waivers. We will find out if that is a risk they are willing to take.