The New York Giants have an unexpected competition on their hands.
Veteran kicker Graham Gano, a Pro Bowler in his past, doesn’t appear to be totally safe.
Pro Football Rumors writer Ely Allen suggests Gano is a cut candidate.
If Gano were to be cut, it’d be in favor of Jude McAtamney, who is from Northern Ireland.
The move would save the Giants a bit against the salary cap, but it’s not clear it’d be enough to justify the move.
Gano is 38 now, but he’s coming off a season in which he made 9-of-11 field goals while battling injury. He made both his attempts beyond 50 yards.
McAtamney played in just one game and made a 31-yarder for the Giants in his NFL debut in 2024. Before that, he played his college ball at Rutgers after beginning his college career at the Division II level.
“At the moment, it looks like the job is Gano’s for the taking in New York, but McAtamney continues to lurk in the background and seems to be doing enough to remain in contention,” Allen writes. “If McAtamney can impress this summer, the combination of Gano’s cap impact and his recent struggles with injury may open the door a little wider for McAtamney to kick his way through.”
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The Giants had also tried Greg Joseph last season in place of Gano, but he didn’t stick.
New York would save approximately $4.4 million by cutting Gano, according to Allen.
Kicking is a streaky game, so if McAtamney gets hot at the right time this summer, maybe he could steal the job.
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