The New York Giants continue their aggressive free agency approach, this time swiping a key rotational defender from a division rival.
Former Dallas Cowboys edge rusher Chauncey Golston has agreed to a three-year, $19.5 million deal with the Giants, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. It’s a move that strengthens the Giants' defensive front while simultaneously chipping away at the Cowboys’ depth.
Golston, a former third-round pick out of Iowa, is coming off a breakout 2024 campaign where he posted career highs across the board—56 tackles, 5.5 sacks, five passes defended, and even an interception. The 27-year-old proved he could be a disruptive force when given more opportunities, something the Giants are clearly banking on as they look to solidify their pass rush alongside Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux.
Not everyone is thrilled about this move, though. Enter Cowboys superstar Micah Parsons, who didn’t hold back his frustration when news of Golston’s signing broke.
Micah Parsons is not a fan of the Chauncey Golston signing
As soon as Golston’s departure became public, Parsons took to X (formerly Twitter) and let out a simple but telling reaction: “Dam” with two sour faces.
Those two emojis said it all.
Parsons has been vocal about his frustration with the Cowboys' lack of aggression in free agency, and losing Golston to a division rival only adds salt to the wound.
Dallas has spent the offseason standing pat, and so far, they’ve done little to excite their fanbase. It’s no wonder Parsons is frustrated. Losing a key depth piece like Golston makes their defensive front even thinner heading into 2025. The team lost Dorance Armstrong and Dante Fowler Jr. last year as well.
For the Giants, though, this is a pretty solid addition. Golston brings versatility, having played both inside and outside on the Cowboys’ defensive front. He’s a bigger-bodied edge rusher at 6-foot-5, 268 pounds, giving the Giants a different profile compared to the leaner, more explosive Thibodeaux and Burns. He also most likely replaces Azeez Ojulari, who never quite lived up to expectations and is expected to find his own new home in free agency.
Parsons' reaction is just the cherry on top for Giants fans, who will be happy to know that their latest signing is already ruffling feathers in Dallas. For Golston, this is a good opportunity to build on last season's mini-breakout.
Doing it while potentially making life miserable for his former team twice a year? That’s just an added bonus.