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The Dallas Cowboys have had to endure a ton of attrition on the defensive line in 2024. Things started off bad in the offseason, worsened in training camp and hit rock bottom during the first month of the season. After losing DL guru and defensive coordinator Dan Quinn to Washington, the Commanders new head coach took two free agent defensive ends with him. Dorance Armstrong and Dante Fowler moved to the nation’s capital, making way for some new blood in Dallas.
Only Sam Williams, the third-year DE predicted to breakout with the increased snap allocation, was lost for the season in training camp to an ACL. Then, just four games into the season, Dallas lost four-time Pro Bowler DeMarcus Lawrence for what is now the rest of the season to a foot injury. In that same game, All-Pro monster Micah Parsons was lost for five weeks to a high-ankle sprain.
The following week, rookie Marshawn Kneeland went out with his own knee injury and the barrel was barren. Except for one player, fourth-year pro Chauncey Golston was still around.
After being an afterthought through his first three seasons, Golston has stepped up. Entering 2024 with just 3.5 career sacks, Golston has four on the year. His size and skillset allows him to have a role on the end of the line or on the interior.
Golston has proven in 2024 that he’s capable of being an integral part of a defense’s plans, not just should lead to some interest on the open market once free agency hit.
Bleacher Report’s Scouting Department identified the fourth-year defensive end as someone who could follow in the footsteps of a former teammate and travel down I-45 to land in Houston with the Texans.
The Texans have looked to the Dallas Cowboys to fill needs before. They signed Dalton Schultz to become the team’s starting tight end in 2023. It might be time to look to The Star to fill another need in free agency.
Chauncey Golston isn’t as well-known as Schultz, but he fills an important role. He has the size to play at both defensive end and defensive tackle, offering flexibility for the Cowboys up front.
The Texans could use some of that as they don’t really have a lot of young depth at tackle or end. Signing Golston would help alleviate that issue as he could take over Denico Autry’s role.
Autry signed last offseason to a two-year deal worth $21.5 million. The 34-year old has played in just eight games in 2024. Golston was a third-round pick in 2021 out of UCLA. He had started just three games in his career prior to this season.