Throughout the last few seasons, the New York Giants have used the undrafted free-agent market to their advantage.

Quarterback Tommy DeVito (2023) is one of the most famous UDFA stories in recent memory. The Giants signed defensive lineman Elijah Chatman after he wasn’t selected in the 2024 draft, and he is still on the roster. And three UDFAs from last year — wide receivers Beaux Collins and Dalen Cambre, along with outside linebacker Trace Ford — are still with the Giants.

But as I noted last year, as the roster improves, there are fewer chances for these players to find roster spots. The arrival of John Harbaugh also changes the dynamic. While general manager Joe Schoen has utilized the market, we’ll have to wait to get a better feel for how much value Harbaugh finds in these signings.

As of now, the Giants’ 2025 class of UDFAs includes eight members. We’re going to break down each one — with some help from Dane Brugler’s “The Beast” — while ranking how likely we think they are to make an impact for the Giants this season. Remember, it’s still very early and rookie minicamp isn’t until next weekend, so consider these rankings an educated guess:

1. Dominic Zvada, K, Michigan

A special teams player at the top of this list? It’s a new day in the Meadowlands indeed. Harbaugh has extensive special teams experience, but that’s not the main reason Zvada takes the top spot here. The Giants have two other kickers on their roster: Jason Sanders and Ben Sauls. Harbaugh and the Giants brought in Sanders on a one-year deal during free agency. But the eight-year veteran, who spent his entire career in Miami before this season, missed the 2025 season with a hip injury. Sauls finished last season as the Giants’ kicker, going 8-for-8 on fields goals and 7-for-7 on extra points.

The 6-foot-3, 178-pound Zvada was Brugler’s No. 2 kicker this year. He struggled in 2025, going 17-for-25 on field goals, but he didn’t miss an extra point. He missed just one of 22 field goal attempts in 2024 for the Wolverines. Given the kicking woes the last few years, the Giants are attacking the position from all angles this offseason, and that leaves Zvada in strong contention for a spot since they already have two capable kickers on the roster.

2. Damon Bankston, RB, New Mexico

The Giants didn’t select a running back in the draft, and a relatively thin depth chart at this position gives Bankston a path to a roster spot. Cam Skattebo and Tyrone Tracy, along with fullback Patrick Ricard, figure to take the majority of snaps. Behind that trio is Devin Singletary, Eric Gray and Dante Miller; only Singletary has meaningful NFL production.

After four seasons at Weber State, the 5-foot-10, 196-pound Bankston played one final collegiate year at New Mexico. He’s No. 36 on Brugler’s running backs ranking and finished 2025 with 635 yards on 114 carries. He also had 31 receptions for 397 yards and three touchdowns. Bankston was also used a kickoff returner his final season.

3. Thaddeus Dixon, CB, North Carolina

Dixon signed one of the more lucrative contracts among the UDFAs, per my beat partner Dan Duggan, which is always quick to move a player up the list. That shows demand and intention. The 6-1, 195-pound Dixon was actually on my big board when thinking about initial pairings for the Giants, and he made a pre-draft visit. He was Brugler’s No. 23-ranked cornerback, and The Athletic’s draft expert noted he was “solid across the board and has the size, coverage agility and toughness that will give him a chance to make a 53-man roster.”

Dixon probably won’t fill the role of starting outside corner, especially after the Giants drafted Colton Hood with their No. 37 selection. But he could add important depth and develop into a role.

4. Ryan Schernecke, OL, Kutztown

The Giants invested in their offensive line this offseason, using the No. 10 pick on Francis Mauigoa and re-signing RT Jermaine Eluemunor in free agency. They added depth on Day 3 of the draft by selecting tackle J.C. Davis along with other depth signings in free agency. But you can never have too many options in the trenches, and Schernecke, like Dixon, drew a relatively large contract for a UDFA.

The 6-6, 318-pound Schernecke was the No. 39-ranked offensive tackle in Brugler’s rankings and was a finalist for the Gene Upshaw Award, which is given to the nation’s best Division II lineman. The question is, how will Schernecke be able to make the leap from Division II to the NFL?

5. Ben Mann, LS, Boston College

The Giants added long snapper Zach Triner this offseason. In the league since 2018, the 35-year-old has bounced around teams the last two seasons. Last year, he played for the Seahawks, Falcons and Commanders before signing with the Giants this offseason as part of their special-teams overhaul.

Similar to the kicker position, there could be a potential competition brewing if the Giants are bringing in Mann, who was Brugler’s No. 6-ranked long snapper. Before transferring to Boston College, the 6-foot-4, 235-pound Mann spent three years at Yale. Plus, Mann has NFL lineage — he’s the grandson of Super Bowl champion Chuck Mercein, who was drafted by the Giants in the 1965.

6. Ben Barten, DT, Wisconsin

The Giants drafted Bobby Jamison-Travis in the sixth round, then signed veteran depth (Shelby Harris and Leki Fotu) post-draft. The 6-foot-5, 316-pound Barten adds more competition. He is Brugler’s 58th-best defensive tackle; he played in all of Wisconsin’s games the last three seasons.

7. Anquin Barnes Jr., DT, Colorado

Another potential addition to the defensive line, Barnes was listed as Brugler’s 170th-best defensive tackle. The 6-4, 298-pound Barnes spent his first few seasons at Alabama before transferring to Colorado in 2024. At Colorado, Barnes tallied 35 total tackles, 19 unassisted tackles, one interception, one pass breakup and half a tackle for loss.

8. Dodji Dahoue, OL, Eastern Michigan

Brugler ranked the 6-9, 295-pound Dahoue as the 62nd-best offensive tackle after an untraditional path. Dahoue was born in France and raised in the United States and Mali, but he didn’t play football in high school in Mali. He learned about football during his first year at Santa Rosa (Calif.) Junior College, redshirting as he learned the rules. After switching to Eastern Michigan in 2024, he moved into a starting role last season before injury cut his year short. Still rehabbing from a torn ACL, Dahoue will likely need a redshirt year. He’s believed to qualify for the International Player Program practice-squad exemption.