4 contracts holding the Giants back right now

2. K Graham Gano

Since joining the Giants prior to the 2020 season, Graham Gano has rejuvenated his NFL career. Over his first three seasons with the franchise, he was arguably their best player, continually racking up numbers that would put him among the best kickers in the league.

However, Gano’s age 36 season in 2023 did not go well, which was detrimental for a team that found themselves in some close games. He missed kicks that you wouldn’t normally even have to look up from your phone to see go through the uprights. Gano was that automatic before he got the yips in '23.

Now, some believe it could be due to him trying to play through an injury. That certainly seemed to be the case when he missed what would’ve been a game-winner against the New York Jets. Still, nothing’s guaranteed when you're Gano’s age, even if the Giants inked the kicker to an extension last season.

At the moment, Gano carries the eighth-highest cap hit on the Giants roster, at more than $7 million for 2024. He’ll be worth that if he gets back to his usual self, but if Gano performs like he did last season, you can’t help but to think of all the other ways Schoen could've spent that chunk of change.