EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – The Giants bolstered their offensive line with the signing of former Atlanta Falcon Matt Gono, a versatile lineman who has played both tackle and guard.
The team also announced they have waived tight end Kaden Smith, a move that comes nine days after the Giants cut ties with tight end Kyle Rudolph, who joined the Giants last year after 10 seasons with the Minnesota Vikings. Evan Engram, the most prominent member of that position group, is set to become a free agent.
Wide receiver David Sills V, who was set to become an exclusive rights free agent, signed a new contract.
Gono, 6-4 and 305 pounds, spent the entire 2021 season on the reserve/physically unable to perform list after undergoing shoulder surgery in June.
In 2020, he participated in 333 snaps while playing in all 16 games. Gono started in four games - at right tackle against Chicago on Oct. 27, at the Chargers on Dec. 13 and vs. Tampa Bay the following week. Gono started at left guard at Kansas City on Dec. 27.
Gono originally joined the Falcons as an undrafted free agent in 2019, when he played in five games as a reserve.
Gono played four seasons at Wesley College, a Division III school in Dover, Delaware whose program was discontinued in 2021. As a senior, he was named first-team All-America.
Gono attended Cinnaminson High School in southern New Jersey. He was born in Liberia.
Smith joined the Giants as a waiver claim on Sept. 16, 2019, two days after he was cut by the San Francisco 49ers, who had selected him in the sixth round of the NFL Draft that year.
In three seasons with the Giants, Smith played in 33 games with 22 starts and caught 52 passes for 413 yards (7.9-yard avg.) and three touchdowns with a long reception of 32 yards.
In 2021, Smith played in nine games with four starts and caught three passes for 33 yards, including two for 24 yards at Washington on Sept. 16. He suffered a knee injury in the Giants' victory against Las Vegas on Nov. 7 and was inactive for two games before being placed on injured reserve Dec. 3.
Smith had his most productive season as a rookie in 2019 when he played in nine games with six starts and had 31 receptions for 268 yards and three touchdowns. His most memorable performance was on Dec. 22 at Washington, where he caught six passes for 35 yards, including touchdowns of nine and three yards, the latter the game-winner in overtime. The following week, he recorded career-high totals of eight catches and 98 yards vs. Philadelphia.
The Giants currently have three tight ends under contract: recently re-signed Chris Myarick, who caught three passes, including a touchdown, in eight games last season; Jake Hausmann, who spent much of the season on the practice squad; and Rysen John, who spent the season on injured reserve. Veteran Levine Toilolo, who was also on I.R. for the entire season, is a free agent.
Sills V, who joined the Giants in 2019, appeared in four games (one start) last season and caught two passes for 17 yards.
View photos of the career of new Giants offensive lineman Matt Gono.
Atlanta Falcons offensive tackle Matt Gono (77) in action during an NFL preseason football game against the New York Jets, Friday, Aug. 10, 2018, in East Rutherford, N.J. The Jets defeated the Falcons, 17-0. (Ryan Kang via AP)
Atlanta Falcons offensive tackle Matt Gono (77) in action during an NFL preseason football game against the New York Jets, Friday, Aug. 10, 2018, in East Rutherford, N.J. The Jets defeated the Falcons, 17-0. (Ryan Kang via AP)
Atlanta Falcons offensive tackle Matt Gono (73) on the line of scrimmage prior to the Hall of Fame game during an NFL preseason football game against the Denver Broncos on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2019 in Canton, Ohio. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Atlanta Falcons offensive tackle Matt Gono (77) makes a move to block on the line of scrimmage during the second half of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018 in Jacksonville, Fla. The Jaguars defeated the Falcons 17-6. (Perry Knotts via AP)
Atlanta Falcons offensive tackle Matt Gono (77) during an NFL preseason football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Friday, August 17, 2018, in Atlanta. The Chiefs won 28-14. (Paul Abell via AP)
Atlanta Falcons offensive tackle Matt Gono (73) blocks as Denver Broncos rookie linebacker Justin Hollins (52) rushes during the Pro Football Hall of Fame NFL preseason football game against the Denver Broncos, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2019 in Canton, Ohio. The Broncos defeated the Falcons 14-10. (Paul Spinelli via AP)
Atlanta Falcons offensive tackle Matt Gono (77) attempts to field a kick during an NFL preseason football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Friday, August 17, 2018, in Atlanta. The Chiefs won 28-14. (Paul Abell via AP)
Atlanta Falcons offensive tackle Matt Gono (73) blocks prior to the Hall of Fame game during an NFL preseason football game against the Denver Broncos on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2019 in Canton, Ohio. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Atlanta Falcons offensive tackle Matt Gono (77) makes a move to block on the line of scrimmage during the second half of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018 in Jacksonville, Fla. The Jaguars defeated the Falcons 17-6. (Perry Knotts via AP)
Atlanta Falcons offensive tackle Matt Gono (73) during an NFL preseason football game against the Washington Redskins on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2019 in Atlanta. The Redskins won, 19-7. (Ric Tapia via AP)
Atlanta Falcons offensive tackle Matt Gono (73) lines up during an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019, in Atlanta. The Falcons beat the Panthers 40-20. (Cooper Neill via AP)
Atlanta Falcons offensive tackle Matt Gono (73) lines up during an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019, in Atlanta. The Falcons beat the Panthers 40-20. (Cooper Neill via AP)
Atlanta Falcons offensive tackle Matt Gono (73) during an NFL preseason football game against the New York Jets on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2019 in Atlanta. The Jets won, 22-10. (Ric Tapia via AP)
Atlanta Falcons offensive tackle Matt Gono (73) watches during the first half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2020, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)
Atlanta Falcons offensive tackle Matt Gono (73) walks back to the line of scrimmage during the second quarter of an NFL Football game in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
Atlanta Falcons offensive tackle Matt Gono (73) walks to huddle after a play against the Washington Redskins during the first half an NFL preseason football game, Thursday, Aug. 22, 2019, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Atlanta Falcons offensive tackle Matt Gono (73) runs a play during an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. Dallas won 40-39. (AP Photo/Brandon Wade)
Atlanta Falcons offensive tackle Matt Gono (73) in action during an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2019 in Tampa, Fla. ( Tom DiPace via AP)
Atlanta Falcons offensive tackle Matt Gono (73) runs to the line during the second half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020, in Atlanta. The Detroit Lions won 23-22. (AP Photo/Danny Karnik)
Atlanta Falcons offensive tackle Matt Gono (73) reacts prior to an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019 in Santa Clara, Calif. Atlanta won 29-22. (Peter Read Miller via AP)
Atlanta Falcons offensive tackle Matt Gono (73) lines up during the second half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020, in Atlanta. The Detroit Lions won 23-22. (AP Photo/Danny Karnik)
Atlanta Falcons offensive tackle Matt Gono (73) blocks Chicago Bears outside linebacker Khalil Mack (52) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020, in Atlanta. The Chicago Bears won 30-26. (AP Photo/Danny Karnik)
Atlanta Falcons tackle Matt Gono (73) lines up in a two-point stance during an NFL game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020, in Inglewood, Calif. The Chargers defeated the Falcons 20-17. (Kevin Terrell via AP)
Atlanta Falcons offensive tackle Matt Gono (73) works against Tampa Bay Buccaneers outside linebacker Jason Pierre-Paul (90) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020, in Atlanta. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers won 31-27. (AP Photo/Danny Karnik)
Atlanta Falcons offensive tackle Matt Gono (73) blocks during an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday, December 13, 2020, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Peter Joneleit)
Atlanta Falcons offensive tackle Matt Gono (73) stretches before an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020, in Atlanta. The Detroit Lions won 23-22. (AP Photo/Danny Karnik)
Atlanta Falcons tackle Matt Gono (73) and guard Chris Lindstrom (63) line up in a two-point stance during an NFL game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020, in Inglewood, Calif. The Chargers defeated the Falcons 20-17. (Kevin Terrell via AP)
Atlanta Falcons offensive tackle Matt Gono (73) lines up during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020, in Atlanta. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers won 31-27. (AP Photo/Danny Karnik)
Atlanta Falcons offensive tackle Matt Gono (73) and offensive guard Chris Lindstrom (63) line up against Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive end Ndamukong Suh (93) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020, in Atlanta. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers won 31-27. (AP Photo/Danny Karnik)
Atlanta Falcons offensive tackle Matt Gono (73) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)
Atlanta Falcons offensive tackle Matt Gono (73) warms up before an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020, in Atlanta. The Atlanta Falcons won 34-27. (AP Photo/Danny Karnik)
