Jan. 31, 2026, 11:01 a.m. ET
The New York Giants signed several players in free agency last year, which would help them compete for a possible playoff berth.
Quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston were brought in to add stability and experience. So were cornerback Paulson Adebo and safety Jevon Holland.
Then there were several under-the-radar moves, such as swing tackle James Hudson and linebacker Chauncey Golston.
In a recent article by Pro Football Focus listing each NFL team’s best and worst free agent signings from last year, veteran guard Greg Van Roten was rated the Giants’ best. Their worst? Golston.
New York’s busy offseason included retaining Van Roten on a one-year deal, and the move was a sharp one. Van Roten was good in pass protection, registering a 70.1 PFF pass-blocking grade with a 97.7 pass-blocking efficiency score. The 35-year-old was also reliable, playing the most offensive snaps of any Giant.
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Van Roten was a late addition after the Giants could not find sufficient guard help in free agency. He was the only player to play every offensive snap for the Giants last year.
Golston, on the other hand, did not distinguish himself on the Giants’ defense, even with Kayvon Thibodeaux missing significant time with injuries.
Several Giants could qualify for this selection, but Golston’s contract seems the most disproportionate. Despite inking a three-year, $19.5 million deal, the edge rusher played only 173 snaps and generated five pressures in that time. With New York boasting one of the deeper edge-defending units in the league, perhaps Golston’s money could have been spent better elsewhere.
The Giants appear to have little leverage with Golston this year. His cap hit is $7 million with a dead cap hit of $8.25 million.
