The New York Giants are projected to have over $43.3 million in cap space heading into 2025. However, with multiple holes on their roster, general manager Joe Schoen may look for every possible way to create additional flexibility.
One potential move could involve releasing veteran kicker Graham Gano. Signed to a $16.5 million contract extension in 2023, Gano is set to earn a base salary of $4.5 million in 2025, with a cap hit of $5.665 million. His contract runs through the 2026 season.
Cutting Gano before June 1 would save the Giants $3.165 million, while designating him as a post-June 1 release would save $4.415 million. However, the latter option would delay access to those funds until after June 1.
“I would guess he’d be a cap casualty,” New York Post reporter Ryan Dunleavy told Ourlads Football on January 20. He later added, “I would think he’ll be cut, or have his contract reworked.”
Gano’s struggles in recent seasons, coupled with injuries and age, may factor into the Giants’ decision. The kicker turns 38 in April and has only appeared in 18 games over the past two seasons, converting just 71.4% of his field goal attempts in that span.
Once a reliable part of the Giants roster, Gano’s effectiveness has waned. For head coach Brian Daboll, the kicking game has been a significant issue in 2023 and 2024, and it’s an area the Giants must address to improve in 2025.
Bleacher Report Lists Graham Gano as a Likely Cap Casualty
Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine echoed Dunleavy’s prediction, naming Gano as the Giants’ most likely cap casualty in a January 20 article.
“Graham Gano was the highest-paid kicker in the league in 2024, and he’s set to be the fifth-highest-paid in 2025,” Ballentine noted. “That seems like a bit much for a team with bigger needs across the roster.”
Ballentine also highlighted Gano’s age and injury concerns. “Gano is now 38 years old and has dealt with injuries over the last two seasons,” he wrote. “Given his age and the fact that the Giants can clear [approximately] $3.2 million of his cap hit by releasing him before June 1, he could be a cap casualty.”
While Ballentine acknowledged that the Giants are not in dire financial straits, he suggested that cutting Gano might allow them to prioritize their spending elsewhere.
Giants Predicted to Draft a Kicker in 2025
On January 13, SNY’s Lucas Hutcherson published an article outlining five bold predictions for the Giants in 2025, including drafting a kicker.
“The Giants thought they had addressed their kicker position by signing Graham Gano a few years ago, but the veteran has missed 16 games over the past two seasons,” Hutcherson wrote. “Four other players have kicked for the Giants during that time, not to mention a few other kickers who signed but got hurt before they got a chance to contribute.”
Hutcherson suggested that drafting a top collegiate kicker could solve this persistent issue. “Florida State’s Ryan Fitzgerald recently declared for the draft and is considered by many experts to be the top kicking prospect available,” he noted.
Hutcherson added that spending a mid-round pick on Fitzgerald could pay off long-term. “It could be a worthwhile investment if it eradicates a problem that has affected them for the past few seasons,” he concluded. “And [the pick] prevents them from having to worry about this position again for several years.”
If the Giants draft a kicker in 2025, Gano would almost certainly be released, either before or after June 1.
