7 UDFAs signed as Giants begin rookie minicamp

Damon Bankston

Bankston would seem like competition for Eric Gray and Dante Miller for a spot on the practice squad. Chris wrote:

Bankston is an undersized runner at 5-foot-10, 196 pounds, but his frame belies a tenacious runner. Bankston is a short-striding runner which limits his top speed a bit (not that his 4.43-second 40 is slow by any means), however he appears to be a “quicker than fast” runner on the field. He runs with short, choppy steps and incredible stride frequency which allows him to hit top speed in a hurry, as well as cut on a dime. Bankston has good vision and the kind of contact balance you’d expect from a player with his natural leverage, which combined with his quickness and agility to resemble something like a water beetle. He’s able to make defenders miss in a phonebooth, constantly skittering from hole to hole and bouncing off of would-be tacklers.

Bankston is also a good receiver, with 31 catches for 397 yards (12.8 per catch) and 3 touchdowns. He had 10 total touchdowns last year, five rushing, three receiving, and two on kickoff returns.

It isn’t surprising, then, that Bankston’s real value comes as a returner. He returned 12 kicks at New Mexico, racking up 434 yards (36.2 per return), and the aforementioned pair of touchdowns. Given the changes to the NFL’s kick-off rules, it behooves teams to have dangerous options at kick-off returner. The opportunities will be there for a good return game to set up the offense, or even create game-changing scores on special teams.

In the Football Gameplan Draft Guide, Emory Hunt wrote:

Strengths:

• Fluid runner with the ball, able to fit like a glove with the
  design of the run play. Especially with regards to outside
  zone/stretch plays.

• Good lateral agility that helps him bounce across gaps in the
  run game. He’s able to make an efficient cut while still
  working up field.

• Smooth in the open field to where he has the unassuming
  speed to pull away from defenders.

• Works well within the interior of the OL, finding creases.

Areas of improvement”

• Pass protection has to improve if he wants to sustain a role
  as an every down back as opposed to a spot guy.
  Assertiveness and execution is where the growth needs to
  take place.

Ben Barten

Barten is another undrafted nose tackle candidate as the Giants seek to find multiple ways to replace Dexter Lawrence.

Barten has good size, but a less than stellar athletic profile:

• NY Giants UDFAs: Can DT Ben Barten fit into the Giants’ defensive line?

Barten received just $2,500 in guaranteed money in his UDFA contract.

Thaddeus Dixon

The Giants hosted Dixon for a pre-draft ‘30’ visit, and pounded when he went undrafted. They guaranteed the North Carolina cornerback $282,500, a full seasons practice squad salary and a $35,000 signing bonus.

Chris called Dixon a “player to watch” this summer.

In his draft guide, Hunt wrote:

Strengths:

• Does a really good job of attacking downhill when he sees
  backfield action or a quick pass to the perimeter. Able to
  shrink that space in an instant.
• Good overall athleticism, very Gumby-like bendiness to
  where he can twist and contort his body to dip under or
  around blocks to make a play.
• Able to leverage the ball well, plays with length and is able to
  hold it down on either side of the secondary, even as a slot
  defender. Plays with a great attitude and confidence.

Areas of Improvement:

• Tends to play high, both in his backpedal and in coverage.
  Doesn’t give him the best chance to really explode out of
  his break and has him, at times, a beat too late to make a
  significant play.

The Giants are anything but settled when it comes to the last couple of cornerback spots on the 53-man roster, so perhaps Dixon has a chance.

Ben Mann

The fact that Mann was signed as an undrafted player and not simply invited to rookie minicamp on a tryout basis tells you that the Giants are not simply handing the long-snapping job to journeyman Zach Triner, who snapped in just one NFL game last season.

Mann received a $10,000 signing bonus in his UDFA contract, another sign the Giants believe he has a chance.

• NY Giants UDFAs: Can Ben Mann replace Casey Kreiter as long snapper?

Ryan Schernecke

This is a player more than half the league was interested in throughout the process, and another whom the Giants gave a full $282,500 in guaranteed money.

Schernecke’s college coach, Jim Clements, beleives he has a strong chance to make the jump from Division II to the NFL.

“He might have seen a pretty good situation, where the Giants are. Obviously everyone wants to be better up front, but he thought maybe, hey, this is a spot where I can grow, get better,” Clements said. “It’s a new offensive line coach. It’s a new system. John Harbaugh’s in town. I think Ryan fits in that wheelhouse, what he [Harbaugh] was doing at Baltimore, and that’s what he wants to bring to New York. I think he’d be a really good fit, good project.”

Schernecke played both tackle spots at Kutztown, and is also believed to have guard flexibility.

“The Giants are investing in him and have a plan for him and a vision for him,” Clements said. “Whatever their plan and vision is for him, he’s going to exceed that. I don’t know what that is for them. I don’t know where they see him, but whatever they expect, they’re going to be more than happy what they get because he’s going to exceed that.”

• Can Giants UDFA OT Ryan Schernecke make the leap from DII Kutztown to the NFL?

Dominic Zvada

The Giants are bringing the talented but inconsistent former Michigan kicker in to compete with Ben Sauls and Jason Sanders. The Giants gave Zvada a $145,000 signing bonus

Nick Baumgardner of The Athletic told Big Blue View Zvada might be the most likely UDFA to make the 53-man roster.

“Dominic Zvada from Michigan was one of the kickers who I thought had a chance to be drafted,” Baumgardner said. “Big 10 kicker of the year in 2024. Wasn’t as good last year. missed a few more I think, but I think he only missed one field goal in 2024 and they used him a ton. So he is really good. He would be one that I wouldn’t be surprised.

“I don’t know exactly what their kicking situation is there, but he is a very good player. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s someone who makes some noise.”