The talk of the 2025 town is the New York Giants' pass rush. Between Dexter Lawrence, Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux, and rookie Abdul Carter, this pass rush is going to be a nightmare for opposing quarterbacks. There is legitimate reason to believe this defense could lead the league in sacks this season.
That being said, these four guys won't lead the league in sacks alone. No. They can't and they won't. What they will do is make it difficult for the depth guys to get face time while they eat in the background.
So (correction), this defense might lead the league in sacks because they have the necessary depth to do so. Depth is just as important as star power, and Joe Schoen understood the assignment by signing Chauncey Golston to a three-year, $18 million deal during free agency.
Golston gives this Giants' defense more pass rushing power than it knows what to do with
Drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft, Golston has the physical tools to be a difference-maker in his own way. Listed at 6-foot-5, 268 pounds, there's a world where his talents aren't solely used on the edge. He does have the size to move inside—he did so in Dallas—making the signing even more intriguing.
No team understands the need for multifaceted depth better than the G-Men. Last season was a trial run in disaster awareness as Big Blue battled injuries all over the defensive line, inside and out. Golston's signing serves as a luxury backup along with a break-glass-in-case-of-emergency starter. It's the best of both worlds.
He's coming off a career year with the Cowboys. He finally got the opportunity to prove himself, playing in over 70% of the defensive snaps last season, finishing the year with career-highs of 56 tackles, 5.5 sacks, and five passes defensed. By all accounts, he was a very solid contributor.
Which is exactly what the Giants need. Burns, Thibodeaux, and Carter are expected to be the new iteration of Tuck, Pierre-Paul, and Umenyiora. But even that group had forgotten man Dave Tollefson lurking in the shadows. Golston is the guy who's going to make life easier for everyone else while quietly eating behind the scenes.
Golston won't be highlighted every week, but his presence should be felt often. There's a real chance for him to carve out a significant role in East Rutherford. He just has to make the most of his chances... assuming they'll be fewer with all the star power around him. It's no longer just one guy.
Golston’s not the name everyone’s watching, but that’s the point. He doesn’t need the spotlight to make a difference. If the Giants’ front turns into what it’s supposed to be, he’ll have a hand in it, whether people notice or not.