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Dallas Cowboys Improve the Secondary by Picking Defensive End Taco Charlton

By Reid Hanson

Nov 28, 2015; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines defensive end Taco Charlton (33) attempts to tackle Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback J.T. Barrett (16) during the game at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 28, 2015; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines defensive end Taco Charlton (33) attempts to tackle Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback J.T. Barrett (16) during the game at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Dallas Cowboys vastly improved their secondary when they picked Michigan defensive end, Taco Charlton, in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft.

Simple needs dictated that the Dallas Cowboys select either a defensive back or an edge rusher. So it was no surprise Dallas went with a defensive end when they selected Taco Charlton with their top pick in the 2017 NFL Draft.

While many in Cowboys Nation are fixated on the ultra-thin situation in the secondary, the addition of Taco does more to help the secondary than any cornerback could have made.

I said it before and I’ll say it again, the Cowboys could have had Richard Sherman in their secondary and they still would have been picked apart by Aaron Rodgers in their 2014 and 2016 playoff losses. Competent quarterbacks will shred All-Pro secondaries if they aren’t facing a pass-rush. That’s why Taco Charlton makes the secondary better.

According to Pro Football Focus, Taco Charlton was third in pass-rush productivity among draft eligible defenders (earning a 86.3 grade).

Why Taco?

Few will question the Cowboys decision to pick an edge rusher. The need is obvious. But many are questioning whether Taco was the right pick given the players still on the board. Fair enough.

Taco Charlton, 6’6” 277lbs with 34.25” arms, adds tremendous length to an already long edge unit.

Together with David Irving, 6’7” 275lbs and the longest roach in the NFL, the Cowboys have quite the imposing bookends.

Charlton is explosive but he doesn’t have the quick-twitch most “war daddies” typically have. Players like Tyus Bowser and T.J. Watt may be the quick-twitch edge rusher many (including me) were looking for, but Charlton comes in with 4-down potential and multiple position versatility. Charlton can play on the right or left edge AND can move inside on nickel downs.

He does have inside moves, counter moves, and a spin move that keeps him in play beyond the first 2-seconds of the rush. Players his size are not supposed to move as well as he moves. His ability to play the run as well as David Irving means the Dallas Cowboys will not be sacrificing one part of the game in order to satisfy another part.

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Additionally, Taco Charlton is NFL-ready. Physically he’s an instant starter for the Cowboys. Rod Marinelli will be tasked with motivating him and making sure he’s running at 100 percent, 100 percent of the time. If he can do that, many see Taco Charlton as a potential All-Pro. 

According to Pro Football Focus, Taco Charlton was third in pass-rush productivity among draft eligible defenders (earning a 86.3 grade). His long reach and dominant hands will keep offensive tackles from locking-up and his arsenal of moves make him unpredictable and difficult to prepare for.

The Key to Greatness?

Taco Charlton is a high floor, low-risk player so “bust” shouldn’t be on anyone’s mind. But as mentioned earlier, the key to success will be his effort. Taco stepped up big in big games and disappeared in unchallenging games.

PFF pointed out that against Power-5 opponents Taco led ALL draft eligible DEs in pass-rush productivity. In other words, in big games, there was no one better than Taco. And big games are exactly where the Dallas Cowboys need him.

Next: How injured is too injured for the Dallas Cowboys to draft?

The Dallas Cowboys improved their secondary with the addition of an ultra-productive pass-rusher in Taco Charlton.

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