A handful of undrafted players always excite New York Giants fans during the spring and summer, and a few generally make the 53-man roster. With rookies having already reported for training camp, let’s look at which undrafted players could emerge with roster spots.
PK Dominic Zvada
Zvada has a clear lead over Ben Sauls for the placekicking job entering training camp. Zvada made all 13 of his field-goal attempts during mandatory minicamp, the only times media saw him kick this spring. Veteran Jason Sanders was already
released, and Ben Sauls had an inconsistent spring.
In an NFL where field-goal attempts from beyond 50 yards, and even 60 yards, are becoming more commonplace, a young placekicker with the ability to make those types of kicks can be an asset. Zvada made 10 of 12 kicks from beyond 50 yards in college, including 7 of 7 in 2024, with a long of 56 yards. Does he have 60+ in game conditions in his arsenal? Maybe we will find out.
If Sauls continues to struggle early in training camp, it will be interesting to see if the Giants bring in veteran competition for Zvada. Currently, Daniel Carlson and Brandon McManus are among the available veteran kickers.
LS Ben Mann
Mann is the only true long-snapper on the 90-man roster after the Giants released journeyman Zach Triner. The long-snapping job probably belongs to Mann until he gives the Giants reason to look elsewhere.
RB Damon Bankston
Cam Skattebo, Tyrone Tracy, and fullback Patrick Ricard are locked into roster spots. Veteran Devin Singletary probably is, as well. Can Bankston, 23, show enough upside to take a practice squad spot away from Dante Miller, 27, or Eric Gray, 26?
OT Ryan Schernecke
The Giants thought enough of Schernecke, a Division II right tackle who played at Kutztown, to give him $282,500 in guaranteed salary to sign with them. That is the equivalent of a full season’s practice squad salary.
Schernecke worked mostly with the third team in the spring, though he did serve as second-team right tackle when Josh Ezeudu missed some time with an elbow injury.
With players like Marcus Mbow, sixth-round pick J.C. Davis, and even Ezeudu appearing to be ahead of him on the depth chart, Schernecke is likely ticketed for the practice squad.
OT Jarrod Gray
Gray, 6-foot-7, 318 pounds, is a former Australian rubgy player who just took up football in 2025. Gray won’t make the 53-man roster. A practice squad spot with an exemption as part of the International Pathway Program seems like a likely outcome.
DT Ben Barten
Primarily a nose tackle, the 6-foot-5, 330-pound Barten seems to have a tall mountain to climb to make the roster. The Giants have D.J. Reader, sixth-round pick Bobby Jamison-Travis, and veteran Josh Tupou at nose tackle.
DT Anquin Barnes Jr.
Like Barten, the 6-5, 340-pound Barnes profiles as a nose tackle. Perhaps the two undrafted rookies are competing for one practice squad spot.
In a profile of Barnes, Chris Pflum wrote:
Barnes Jr. has the traits to be a real find and a UDFA gem if he can learn to finish his rushes. As it stands now, his disruption and ability to open holes for the Giants’ hyper-athletic linebackers could make Barnes Jr. a player to watch this summer.
