Former Michigan kicker Dominic Zvada has emerged as the primary candidate for the New York Giants’ starting placekicker role during mandatory minicamp, according to reports from team observers. The undrafted free agent has consistently outperformed competition in recent drills, positioning himself to potentially secure the job heading into the 2026 NFL season.
The Giants’ search for consistency at kicker remains a focal point for the organization following several seasons of personnel turnover. After the team released veteran Jason Sanders on June 2, 2026, the competition for the starting role narrowed significantly, leaving Zvada to battle against Ben Sauls for the position, as reported by NFL media insiders.
Evaluating the Kicking Competition
Recent practice sessions have highlighted a performance gap between the two remaining kickers. During a mandatory minicamp session, Zvada reportedly converted all 13 of his field goal attempts, while Sauls successfully made seven of 14 attempts, according to reporting by Jordan Raanan. This trend follows an earlier media-accessible session where Zvada went 8-for-8, compared to Sauls’ 4-for-8 performance.
The transition in the Giants’ kicking room has been swift. The team initially signed Jason Sanders to a one-year contract in March 2026, but the veteran was released in June to accommodate roster changes, specifically the addition of wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster. This move left the Giants with a competition between the rookie Zvada and Sauls, who had previously spent time with the organization during the 2025 season.
Early reports out of New York Giants mandatory minicamp suggest that this former Michigan player is in line to win a starting job. https://t.co/a3cifYYS3Q
— Maize n Brew (@MaizenBrew) June 10, 2026
Background and Collegiate Performance
Dominic Zvada’s path to the NFL includes a notable collegiate career. A native of Chandler, Arizona, Zvada initially played at Arkansas State before transferring to the University of Michigan for the 2024 season. During his tenure with the Wolverines, he was recognized for both his accuracy and range, earning Big Ten Kicker of the Year honors.
His 2024 season at Michigan was statistically significant, as he converted 21 of 22 field goal attempts, representing a 95.5% success rate. While his 2025 senior season included instances of inconsistency, Zvada maintained a reputation for performance under pressure, including a game-winning 31-yard field goal against Northwestern with three seconds remaining. These collegiate experiences are now being tested against the requirements of the professional level, where the Giants are looking to improve upon their 2025 performance, particularly regarding extra-point accuracy.
The Path Forward for the Giants
The New York Giants have faced persistent challenges in maintaining a reliable kicking game. Over the previous three seasons, the team utilized eight different kickers, a trend that head coach John Harbaugh is tasked with stabilizing for the upcoming year. The organization finished 11th in the league in field goal percentage during the 2025 season but struggled with extra-point conversions, ranking last in that specific metric.
For Zvada, the coming weeks of summer training camp will serve as the next phase of evaluation. While his recent practice performance has drawn attention, the coaching staff will continue to monitor both kickers as the team prepares for preseason games. The competition remains open in an official capacity, but Zvada’s current trajectory suggests he has established a strong baseline for the starting role.
The Giants will provide further updates on their roster composition during the upcoming training camp sessions in late July. Fans and analysts continue to track the kicker position closely as the team aims to solidify its special teams unit before the Week 1 regular-season opener.