NY Giants rumors: Ryan Santoso attracting trade interest
The NY Giants #2 kicker, Ryan Santoso, has been the subject of trade talks and may soon find a new home.
The NY Giants are set at the kicker position. That much is certain.
However, one of their two kickers may soon end up on a new team. The NY Giants have Graham Gano as their unquestioned starter at kicker. It appears that Ryan Santoso’s days in New York are numbered.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Sunday morning that Santoso has garnered “significant trade interest” amidst teams looking for a kicker. Santoso is built like a linebacker at 6’5, 260 pounds. He has a whale of a boot and can easily kick it over 55 yards.
One player already drawing significant trade interest from around the league: #Giants K Ryan Santoso. Teams have been calling and he could be dealt as the season gets closer. His path is blocked by Graham Gano in NYG, but he’s shown himself to be starter caliber.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 22, 2021
The news shouldn’t come as a surprise. NFL teams all over are always looking for a good, talented, and young kicker. Santoso combines power with accuracy and is consistent with his approach and technique. NY Giants’ Special Teams Coordinator Thomas McGaughey hasn’t hidden his affinity for the 25-year old from Minnesota.
"“Ryan’s a guy who has a huge leg, he’s shown a tremendous amount of improvement since he’s been here. It’s a unique skill set that he does all three, field goals, kickoffs, and punts” – Tom McGaughey"
Even Joe Judge has taken notice of Santoso’s talents. Judge said of Santoso: “He’s definitely a developing player. I think he has big upside in this league for a long time, I really do.”
Getting the seal of approval from Judge is no small task. Santoso has shown up to training camp with the right attitude and mindset to be a full-time NFL starter.
Santoso may not have a future with the Giants, but that’s a reflection of their current option with Gano and not an indictment on Santoso. Gano has long been one of the NFL’s top kickers and set the Giants’ franchise record with consecutive made field goals last season. Santoso took all the reps in Week 1 of preseason vs the Jets. He is expected to continue this workload against the Browns and into next week vs the Patriots.
Early in Sunday’s game against the Browns, Santoso drilled an extra point attempt, and kicked a kickoff out of the back of the end zone for a touchback.
Santoso’s trade value has shot up the last few months. He’s now a hot commodity in the kicking game and his trade market could develop quickly. As former Packers VP Andrew Brandt always says, “Kickers are like lawyers; no one appreciates them until they need a good one.” That much is certain and Santoso has all the looks of being a future starter as an NFL kicker.