Veteran Kicker Graham Gano Holds Onto Giants Job Despite Rocky Stretch
Graham Gano hasn’t had the smoothest last couple of seasons with the New York Giants, but despite a recent slump and speculation about his future, the team seems committed to keeping the veteran kicker around — at least for now.
Back in January, Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post flagged Gano as a possible salary cap cut, well before the start of free agency or the draft. Many believed the Giants might look to bring in a younger option, either by signing a veteran kicker or drafting a rookie in April.
But that never came to pass. As a result, The Athletic’s Giants reporter Dan Duggan named Gano one of the team’s “biggest winners” of the offseason. “With a $5.7 million cap hit, combined with his age and recent injury history, Gano seemed like a prime candidate to be released,” Duggan noted. “But at 38, he not only made it through the initial wave of offseason cuts, his job looks even more secure after the Giants passed on taking a kicker in the draft — despite having two seventh-round picks.”
Duggan added that the Giants also didn’t pick up a kicker in undrafted free agency. The only other kicker on the roster is Jude McAtamney, who’s with the team on an international exemption. That means, for now, Gano remains the clear frontrunner to handle kicking duties in 2025.
Since signing a three-year, $16.5 million extension in 2022, Gano has struggled with injuries and performance issues. He connected on just 64.7% of his field goal attempts in 2023, and improved only slightly in 2024 with an 81.8% conversion rate. However, he’s been consistent on long-range kicks — missing only one attempt from 50+ yards over two seasons — and he’s been flawless on extra points during that span.
Still, availability remains a concern. Gano has suited up for only 18 games over the past two years. Now 38, it’s a gamble for the Giants to expect a turnaround, especially with limited backup options. The team could still release him post-June 1 to free up $4.415 million in cap space — but for now, Big Blue appears willing to bet on experience over unproven potential.
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