New York Giants' Most Confusing Player is Not Who You Think

The New York Giants were very busy in free agency last offseason, signing key pieces like Paulson Adebo and Jevon Holland to bolster their secondary while also bringing in quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston.

But lost in the fog of the bigger additions was the three-year, $18 million contract the Giants handed defensive end Chauncey Golston.

Golston was coming off of a breakout year with the Dallas Cowboys in 2024, when he registered 56 tackles, five sacks, an interception and five forced fumbles.

As a result, the addition of Golston looked like a very nice sleeper move for the Giants, who already had Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux at edge rusher, but could have afforded some depth.

But then, New York went and selected Abdul Carter with the third overall pick of the NFL Draft, and it completely clouded things for Golston.

The 27-year-old missed significant time due to injuries in 2025, appearing in just 10 games, but even during his time on the field, his playing time was limited. Golston played in just 27 percent of the Giants' defensive snaps in games he played, down significantly from 72 percent the season prior.

Now, it should be noted that Golston did see considerably more burn toward the end of the year with Thibodeaux sidelined due to injury. In fact, 17 of Golston's 20 total tackles came over the final six contests of the campaign, and he actually played very well down the stretch.

So what exactly does the future hold for Golston?

Well, I am of the belief that if New York knew that Carter would fall into its lap in the draft, it never would have signed the University of Iowa product.

There is one path to legitimate playing time for Golston in 2026, and that's if the Giants trade Thibodeaux this offseason, which is a very distinct possibility.

That would make Golston the third edge rusher behind Burns and Carter, and as we saw during the latter stages of 2025, that means Golston will be seeing the field.

Golston's situation is still very confusing based on the fact that, at the current point in time, New York is heading into 2026 with all of Burns, Carter and Thibodeaux on the roster, which certainly puts Golston in a difficult spot.

The Detroit native surely expected more playing time when he signed with Big Blue last March, but circumstances obviously changed.

Golston's presence is another reason why trading Thibodeaux for a draft pick should be a priority for the Giants this spring, as he has proven he is more than capable of making an impact.

We'll see what becomes of Golston next fall, but we will definitely get a much clearer picture of his future based on what New York does in the coming months.