Graham Gano is automatic, so the Giants are paying him like it.
The club signed the veteran kicker to a three-year, $16.5 million contract extension on Friday that includes more than $11.3 million guaranteed.
The deal should enable GM Joe Schoen to create some cap space this season knowing he’s committed to Gano in future years, as well.
The $5.5 million average annual of Gano’s new contract puts him third among all NFL kickers behind only the Ravens’ Justin Tucker ($6 million) and the Colts’ Matt Gay ($5.6 million).
Gano earned the right to be paid like one of the game’s best.
He has made 89 of 97 field goal attempts across 50 games with the Giants. His 91.8 field goal percentage is the best in franchise history among kickers who spent more than one season with the franchise. He has also connected on 70 of 74 extra points (94.6 percent).
Gano has made 20 field goals from 50-plus yards in just three seasons, which is 11 more than any other player in franchise history. Last season, he made 29 of 32 field goal attempts (90.6%) and set a Giants record with eight field goals of 50-plus yards, one more than he had in 2021.
