Giants Bolster Linebacker, Tight End Positions in Free Agency

New York franchise addresses key needs, including signing former Bears star Tremaine Edmunds

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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The New York Giants entered free agency with several holes to fill, particularly at linebacker and tight end. The team addressed those needs early on, agreeing to deals with former Bears linebacker Tremaine Edmunds and former Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely.

Why it matters

The Giants' moves at linebacker and tight end represent a concerted effort to upgrade two critical positions on both sides of the ball. Edmunds and Likely are expected to immediately step in as starters and provide significant upgrades over the team's previous options.

The details

The Giants agreed to a three-year, $36 million contract with Tremaine Edmunds, who will likely become the team's new starting middle linebacker. Edmunds is a former Pro Bowler who has started 119 games over his eight-year career. On offense, the team signed tight end Isaiah Likely to a three-year, $40 million deal. Likely caught 15 touchdowns and had 1,568 receiving yards in four seasons with the Ravens.

  • The Giants entered free agency on March 10, 2026.
  • The team agreed to deals with Edmunds and Likely on March 13-14, 2026.
  • The new league year and free agency period officially began on March 15, 2026.

The players

Tremaine Edmunds

A former first-round pick of the Bills in 2018, Edmunds is a 27-year-old linebacker who has made the Pro Bowl twice and recorded over 900 career tackles.

Isaiah Likely

A tight end who spent his first four NFL seasons with the Ravens, Likely caught 15 touchdowns and had 1,568 receiving yards during his time in Baltimore.

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What they’re saying

“We must address our needs at linebacker and tight end, and Tremaine and Isaiah are two high-upside players who will immediately upgrade those positions for us.”

— John Harbaugh, Giants Head Coach (trentonian.com)

What’s next

The Giants' new free agent signings will become official on March 15, 2026 when the new league year begins.

The takeaway

The Giants' early free agency moves demonstrate a clear focus on upgrading key positions of need, particularly at linebacker and tight end. The additions of Tremaine Edmunds and Isaiah Likely should provide immediate boosts to both the defense and offense as the team looks to return to the playoffs in 2026.