Home / Sports / Rookie Kicker Dominates Giants' Training Camp
Rookie Kicker Dominates Giants' Training Camp
19 Jul
Summary
- Undrafted rookie Zvada has impressed significantly in camp.
- Veteran Sanders was released due to struggles with conditions.
- Sauls, despite past success, has shown inconsistency this spring.
The New York Giants' placekicking competition has seen an unexpected frontrunner emerge this spring in undrafted rookie free agent Dominic Zvada. He has shown significant promise and impressed during recent practices.
Initially, the Giants had Zvada, Ben Sauls, and veteran Jason Sanders vying for the kicking job. However, Sanders was released after struggling with the windy conditions at MetLife Stadium, though he was quickly signed by the New York Jets. This move suggested a potential lack of fit with the stadium's environment.
Sauls, who finished the 2025 season strongly by making all his field goal and extra-point attempts in the final three games, has not replicated that success this spring. He has demonstrated inconsistency, with erratic performance in multiple practice sessions. In contrast, Zvada has been near perfect during the same period.
Despite Zvada's clear advantage, Head Coach John Harbaugh indicated that the competition would continue into training camp. He noted Sauls' consistent technique issue of missing kicks to the left, suggesting it's a fixable problem. However, Zvada's substantial lead may render Sauls' potential improvements in training camp less impactful for securing the starting job.
