The New York Giants signed free agent linebacker Chauncey Golston this offseason, not necessarily as a replacement for Azeez Ojulari but to add depth at a lacking position.
At the top of the depth chart, the Giants have Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux, who is still awaiting a decision on his fifth-year option. After that, there's very little. Golston adds NFC East experience and improving production after a 5.5-sack season with the Dallas Cowboys in 2025.
But Golston won't be limited to a back-end rotational role.
During the NFL owners' meetings, general manager Joe Schoen revealed that the Giants have a very specific role in mind for Golston, and it involves occasionally shifting inside.
"Chauncey stood out specifically. What we liked about him, obviously we have Kayvon and Burns as outside backers, he'll be a rotational outside backer with those guys," Schoen told Giants.com. "Then when he comes inside, and his size, his length, his ability to rush the passer inside, he will really help us because a lot of teams fly to Dexter and try to double team him.
"And Chauncey's ability to win one-on-one matchups and be able to press the pocket will really help us then with Burns and Kayvon coming off the edge."
In 2024, Golston took 786 defensive snaps with most coming at defensive end (left and right), but he also took snaps at every other position along the front seven, including nose tackle in pass rush situations.
While Golston may not take that same number of snaps with the Giants, the positions will clearly be more liberally distributed.
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: Giants have a very specific role in mind for Chauncey Golston
