The Cowboys don’t need Taco Charlton to be a star…yet.
By Reid Hanson
The Dallas Cowboys drafted Taco Charlton with their first pick in the 2017 NFL Draft launching expectations through the roof. Here’s why he doesn’t need to meet those expectations right away.
Anytime you’re the first round draft pick of the Dallas Cowboys you’re met with a truckload of expectations. Fair or not, such are the costs of being a first rounder for America’s Team. But given the sudden depth the Cowboys now enjoy on the defensive line, Dallas can afford to take their time developing Charlton.
Don’t get me wrong – the Cowboys need a pass rusher or two in a bad way. Their pass-rush may have ranked near the middle of the pack in total sacks, but when factoring how many more passing plays they faced, Dallas was actually the third worst in the NFL in applying pressure.
Deep Rotation
With edge rushers like DeMarcus Lawrence and Tyrone Crawford playing in make-or-break years of their contracts, and Damontre Moore on the verge of finally breaking out, and Charles Tapper finally hitting the field, and David Irving, possibly the best of them all, eager to prove himself once he returns from suspension, the Cowboys are loaded with options at defensive end.
They may not have those “A” players (aka “war daddies”) everyone longs for, but they have a ton of “B” and “C” guys ready to play in Rod Marinelli’s rotation. And let’s face it, a late first round rookie pass-rusher isn’t going to be any more than a “C” or at-best a “B” player right away anyway.
The temptation will be for Cowboys’ fans to expect big things from Taco Charlton on Day 1. Such are unreasonable expectations. What we said before the draft regarding rookie pass rushers still stands true today. Rookies rarely make an impact in the pass rushing portion of the game.
Do you love Dallas sports? Join Sport DFW and write a weekly column!
Cowboys Camp
There has been some disappointment regarding the impact Taco Charlton made in training camp. While obviously we’d like to see all of the Dallas rookies thrive as quickly as possible, making that the expectation is ludicrous. This is especially true when that rookie is matched up against an All-Pro like Tyron Smith or even a budding third-year pro like La’el Collins.
More from Dallas Cowboys
- West coast, Texas coast, burnt toast: Cowboys don’t need more runs
- Brandin Cooks will change the way defenses play the Dallas Cowboys
- Why the Dallas Cowboys defensive X-Factor is EDGE Sam Williams
- Dallas Cowboys: 3 head coach options if McCarthy fails in 2023
- Dallas Cowboys: Is CB Jourdan Lewis a tradeable asset?
Taco Charlton has struggled. And he’ll continue to struggle in training camp. He’s making a big transition to the NFL so all of this is expected. The beauty of the situation is that, unlike at cornerback, the Dallas Cowboys are in no rush to get their rookie defensive end playing.
As mentioned, cornerback is an entirely different situation. Patience is not an option regarding the development of Chidobe Awuzie, Marquez White, and Jourdan Lewis. The Cowboys let roughly 2,600 snaps walk out the door in free agency in March. They need to replace those snaps ASAP. Luckily for the Cowboys, Chido and White (Lewis has been hurt) have been doing just that and actually look like a significant upgrade over last year.
Taco Charlton has the build and athletic skillset to be an every-down player in the NFL. It could happen this season or it may happen next season. The good news is the Cowboys don’t need to rush it.
Next: More important position on the Cowboys: WR4 or TE2?
As a first round draft pick, the Cowboys will need Taco Charlton to be a core player on their defense. They just don’t require him to right away. Taco needs to develop and with Rod Marinelli and the depth of the rotation, he’s in the perfect place.