After the top cornerbacks were taken in the 2021 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys traded back two spots and selected star edge rusher Micah Parsons. It will forever be remembered as the backup plan that worked out quite favorably for the Cowboys. Don’t get us wrong, Patrick Surtain II (selected one spot before the Cowboys were up) would have been a great pick. He’s had two Pro Bowl seasons and his seven career interceptions are just two shy of what Daron Bland had last year. PS2 is great, but that Parsons fella? Well, let’s just say we’re all happy with how that turned out.
Not only did the Cowboys land the best player in the entire draft, but they also scored a third-round pick (84th overall) from the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for allowing them to move up. Dallas used that pick to select Iowa defensive lineman Chauncey Golston.
Over his first three years in the league, Golston has played in 47 (of a possible 51) games. He’s only started three of them as he’s mostly served as a down-the-roster rotational player. His defensive snap counts are 41% (2021), 23% (2022), and 29% (2023). He has a total of 79 tackles and 3.5 sacks.
Coming out of college he was viewed as a tweener as he doesn’t have the get-off to be an impact edge rusher, nor does he have the strength to anchor down and handle the pushback in the middle. For that reason, Golston was used in a variety of ways at Iowa, so it shouldn’t be much of a surprise to see more of the same at the pro level. Dan Quinn used him at both spots as he essentially split his time at the DE and DT positions. Golston has not been able to find his niche in the Cowboys' defense, but that’s okay. The team values versatility and Golston contributes any way he can.
When you watch his film, he may seem unimpressive. There’s no freaky athleticism or overpowering reps to get excited about. Golston is a blue-collar worker who plays to his strengths. His most effective skill set is using his great length to shed blockers. While he’s not explosive or particularly strong, those long arms help him swim by opponents. Golston is also very good at knowing where he needs to go. He has a good sense of where the play is going and will attack in the right spots. This has allowed him to be a solid contributor wherever he plays.
Golston also has value on special teams as he’s played in roughly a third of the snaps in the kicking game. He’s found the end zone a couple of times so far as he was the recipient of a gift fumble recovery on a blocked punt that landed right in his arms for a touchdown his rookie season. And last year, he scored a two-point conversion on a fake extra point where punter/holder Bryan Anger threw him the ball.
He now enters the last year of his rookie deal. Nobody is giving him much thought as our eyes are centered around more upside players like Sam Williams and Marshawn Kneeland on the edge or Osa Odighizuwa and Viliami Fehoko along the interior. But don’t completely forget about Golston. Before, he was buried on the depth chart, but players like Dorance Armstrong and Dante Fowler are gone. And with new defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer calling the shots, who’s to say that Golston doesn’t finally find a home on the defensive line?
There’s a lot still to be determined with how this could play out, but a coach-friendly, hard-working, versatile player like Golston could be a long-term fixture on this Cowboys defensive line. With a larger role and some splash plays sprinkled in here and there, he could end up being one of those low-cost re-signings the Cowboys make next offseason to secure some solid depth. With some expected changes both in coaching and from vacated reps, there could be some quality opportunities for Golston in 2024.
