Giants undrafted rookie the NFL forgot to draft makes big early impression to battle for a spot on the 53-man roster
Undrafted kicker Dominic Zvada has had a solid training camp performance, with his strong leg and improved consistency.
The New York Giants may have found their kicker of the future without spending a draft pick. Undrafted rookie kicker Dominic Zvada is turning heads throughout Giants training camp, and his strong performance could earn him a spot on the 53-man roster.
Zvada, who played at Arkansas State before spending his final two college seasons at Michigan, signed with New York as a priority undrafted free agent after the 2026 NFL Draft.
Zvada’s credentials and training camp performance
Zvada was a first-team All-American in 2024 and the Big Ten Kicker of the Year, earning first-team All-Big Ten honors that season. He was one of the best kickers in the class, even though Green Bay Packers kicker Trey Smack was the only one drafted. Zvada is just 22 years old and carries significant upside because of his physical tools.
He is proving why the Giants made him a priority signing. Earlier this week, Zvada went eight for eight on field goal attempts during a single practice, including two makes from beyond 50 yards. Giants writer Art Stapleton indicated he’s not sure Giants head coach John Harbaugh will consider bringing in a veteran kicker for competition because the team wanted Zvada as their priority UDFA, and his training camp performance has reached a level where New York can consider him a viable option for the regular season.
The Giants currently have two kickers on their 90-man roster. The other is Ben Sauls, who went undrafted last year and has been with the organization since November, mostly on the practice squad. Sauls was elevated for three games. He signed again in December and has remained with the team, but he functions primarily as competition.
New York would prefer Zvada to win the job. He’s an undrafted rookie on a three-year contract and likely has a higher ceiling for the franchise’s future at the position.
The college film tells two stories
Zvada posted an 82.8 field goal percentage throughout his college career. His best season came in 2024, when he converted 21 of 22 kicks for a 95.5 field goal percentage and made 26 of 27 extra points. Last year was more uneven. He converted all 43 of his extra points but made only 17 of 25 field goals, a 68% rate that likely contributed to his going undrafted. The leg strength, however, is undeniable.
“Zvada figures to be a challenging evaluation for special teams coaches,” wrote NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zierlein. “His 84% make rate from 50 yards and beyond might be overshadowed by his inconsistencies with mid-range and shorter kicks. In a league where makes from mid-range to deep are now expected, consistency from inside the 40 is absolutely demanded. If Zvada finds his 2024 form and stays there, he’ll pick up a spot on an NFL roster.”
Zvada connected on 84% of his kicks beyond 50 yards in college, but he was sub-80% on kicks inside of 40 yards since 2023. That inconsistency on shorter attempts is the gap between prospect and a high-level NFL starter. The fact that Zvada has been consistent throughout training camp is good news for the Giants. It could mean the rookie is taking a step forward in his career and could potentially earn a spot on the 53-man roster to start the season.
