Which Giants UDFAs have the best chance of contributing during 2026 season?

Michigan K Dominic Zvada

Zvada was another player many draft analysts felt had a chance to be drafted, with some listing him as the best available kicker. Having gone undrafted, the All-American Zvada’s decision to join the Giants is a curious one because New York already invested in the kicker position this offseason, when they brought in former All-Pro Jason Sanders in free agency.

Over the course of his college career, Zvada made seven field goals of 50 yards or longer, so he obviously has a big leg so could perhaps challenge Sanders, or step in for him if he gets injured again having missed all of last year.

Ultimately, he has a reasonable shot of kicking at the NFL level this year, but it might not be with the Giants.

Boston College LS Ben Mann

New head coach John Harbaugh’s background in special teams made it predictable that the Giants would make plenty of moves to address their specialist roles in his first year. Having brought in Sanders and made Jordan Stout the league’s highest paid punter, the long snapper was the only role New York was yet to address before now.

Mann, who spent three years at Yale before transferring to Boston College, has a very real shot of earning a roster spot. His only current competition is veteran Zach Triner, who was on four different teams last season and only played in one game.

Kutztown OL Ryan Schernecke

When assessing which undrafted rookies are most likely to contribute, it always makes sense to follow the money. Schernecke was reportedly given a contract that contained $282,500 of guaranteed money, which tied Dixon for the highest amount among all of the undrafted signings. That’s a surefire sign that they have every intention of retaining him on the practice squad at the very least.

Kutztown is a Division II school, so it will be a big jump in talent level for Schernecke. However, he has plenty of experience with 45 career starts and showcased his size (6-foot-7, 318 pounds) and strength (30 bench press reps) during the pre-draft process.

New Mexico RB Damon Bankston

Bankston, who ran a 4.43 in the 40-yard dash at his pro day, had a productive season last year as he racked up over 1,000 yards from scrimmage and scored 10 total touchdowns. With starter Cam Skattebo still on his way back from a serious injury, Bankston could have a shot to compete for a reserve role.

One other area where Bankston could contribute is in the return game. He averaged over 36 yards per kickoff return with two touchdowns last season. If he can impress in that area, it might be his best route to a roster spot.