Cowboys hot topic: Chauncey Golston is playing good football

Much like the Dallas Cowboys handled the running back position during the offseason, they also didn't do much to get more depth at edge rusher despite losing Dorance Armstrong and Dante Fowler in free agency. Plus, they lost Sam Williams for the season with a torn ACL, which seriously hurt because he was being counted on to take the next step in his development. However, it did create an opportunity for Chauncey Golston to get more shine, which is something mentioned back in April .

It started in Week 1 for Golston. He logged 29 snaps against the Cleveland Browns and produced four pressures and four hurries. As good as that was, he's been much better over the last five games with All-Pro Micah Parsons (four games) and DeMarcus Lawrence out, although the Cowboys have lost four of them. Golston has amassed over 50 snaps in four of those games (45 in the other), and it's paid off immensely. He put up a half sack against the Pittsburgh Steelers and Detroit Lions. Even further, Golston has five tackles in four of the last five games, 11 hurries, and 13 pressures (tied Parsons for the most on the Cowboys in Week 10). Also, his 21.7% pass-rush win rate was the best on the Cowboys last week against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Golston's performance in 2024 will far surpass anything he's done in his previous three seasons. His 31 tackles are just one off his rookie total of 32. He's also three pressures and two hurries away from tying his career highs, and he's already produced a career-best two sacks. He's done this in just nine games as opposed to playing in at least 15 in each of his first three seasons. He does still slide inside some, which is what he did in college as well. However, it's clear that he does his best work on the edge, and that's where he should play most of the time.

Golston will be an unrestricted free agent in 2025. Of course, the Cowboys won't be big spenders because they never are in the offseason. However, Golston has earned a second contract, and he won't cost a lot, which is right up the Cowboys alley of how they do business. Having Parsons, Lawrence, a healthy Williams, and Golston will be a nice place for the Cowboys to start from on the edge next year.