The New York Giants might have found a hidden gem in undrafted free agent Dominic Zvada, a kicker out of Michigan who could shake up the team's special teams this summer. According to Nick Baumgardner, draft analyst for The Athletic, Zvada has the talent to turn heads and possibly earn a spot on the 53-man roster.
"Dominic Zvada from Michigan was one of the kickers who I thought had a chance to be drafted," Baumgardner said. "He was the Big Ten Kicker of the Year in 2024. He only missed one field goal that entire season and they used him a ton. He is really good. I wouldn't be surprised if he's someone who makes some noise."
Zvada enters a kicking competition that is anything but settled. The Giants currently have three kickers on the roster, creating a logjam that could lead to some intense battles in training camp. Ben Sauls, a left-footer out of Pittsburgh, steadied the Giants' shaky kicking game late last season, going a perfect 8-for-8 on field goals and 7-for-7 on extra points over the final three games. His longest make was a 48-yarder, but he also showed off his leg strength in college, hitting 5 of 6 attempts from beyond 50 yards in his final season at Pitt. At just 25 years old, Sauls has youth and momentum on his side.
Then there's veteran Jason Sanders, a former First-Team All-Pro with the Miami Dolphins in 2020. Over seven seasons in Miami, Sanders converted 84.2% of his field-goal attempts, though he struggled from long range, hitting just 68.8% from 40-49 yards. The big question mark is his health. Sanders missed all of last season with a hip injury, and the Giants need to see if he's fully recovered. They signed him to a one-year deal with only $300,000 guaranteed—a clear sign that nothing is promised.
With three kickers vying for one job, the Giants' special teams unit could be one of the most intriguing storylines of the summer. Zvada's accuracy and college pedigree make him a serious dark horse, and if he can carry that momentum into camp, he might just steal the spotlight from his more experienced competitors. For a team looking to stabilize its kicking game, having options is never a bad thing.
