With the NFL trade deadline just over one week away on November 4, the Dallas Cowboys could obviously use some help, at least on one side of the football. While the Cowboys' offense has easily been one of the best in the league, ranking first in total yards per game (390.6) and second in scoring (31.7), the Dallas defense has been dreadful, allowing the most total yards (401.6) and the third-most points (29.4) per contest.
It's almost as if America's Team is missing some sort of game-changing presence who makes everyone around him better, but there's no way Jerry Jones would let a guy like that get away. Oh, wait, that's precisely what he did, didn't he?
The Cowboys were obviously always going to be worse off after Jones shipped Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers, but I don't know if anyone could have expected the Dallas defense to be this bad. So, again, they'd be wise to bring in some help ahead of the deadline if they genuinely believe they can still make the postseason, which is certainly a possibility, given how well the offense is playing.
ESPN recently released a list of 34 players who could be on the move, and one of the names listed as an honorable mention was very interesting, that being none other than Chauncey Golston, whom the Cowboys probably should've re-signed instead of letting him just waltz into free agency to sign with the rival New York Giants.
Chauncey Golston could make for an interesting addition to the Cowboys' defense
One of three players taken in the third round of the 2021 draft by Dallas, the other two being Osa Odighizuwa, who worked out nicely, and cornerback Nahson Wright, who didn't and was ultimately traded to the Chicago Bears, Golston didn't make massive contributions to the defense in his first three seasons but did display some solid versatility by playing multiple positions and contributing on special teams.
Last year, however, with the Cowboys ransacked by injuries, the Iowa alum stepped up nicely and had the best season of his professional career, recording 56 total tackles, five tackles for loss, eight QB hits, 5.5 sacks (second on the team behind only Parsons' 12.0), five passes defended, and an interception, a campaign that ultimately earned him a three-year deal with the Giants worth up to $18 million, with $12 million in guaranteed money.
But things aren't really working out with Big Blue. Yes, part of that is due to the fact that he's missed several games with various injuries, the latest being a neck ailment that kept him out of the Giants' loss to the Denver Broncos last Sunday.
But even when he's been healthy, he simply hasn't gotten many opportunities to shine, as the highest percentage of defensive snaps he's taken in the four games in which he has appeared was 23.6. Oddly enough, that was against the Cowboys in Week 2. But that's what happens when your spot on the depth chart is directly behind Kayvon Thibodeaux.
Does it seem a little silly to bring someone back so soon? Sure. But perhaps the only reason he was allowed to leave in the first place is because Jones actually thought at the time that he was going to have to pay Parsons, which obviously isn't a thing anymore.
If brought back to Dallas, one could argue that Golston would be the second- or third-best edge rushing option for the Cowboys. He's not stealing snaps from Dante Fowler Jr. or even Donovan Ezeiruaku, but he'd certainly be an upgrade over Sam Williams and Marshawn Kneeland at this point.
There are certainly better options out there on the trading block, obviously including Maxx Crosby, but a reunion with Golston is something for the Cowboys to consider if some other attempts to improve the defense don't pan out.