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VIDEO: Draft Profile: Michigan's Taco Charlton - DallasCowboys.com
To get the fiesta started let's join the mothership as Taco Charlton introduces himself in this short video clip. Stick around for the follow-up and watch Charlton's footage from the scouting combine.
Jerry Jones told us weeks ago that he wanted another war daddy pass rusher. Did the front office select the war daddy that the boss envisioned?
The Cowboys assigned first round grades to 18 players in this draft, sources said. Three of those first round grades went to defensive ends.
Charlton wasn't among them. But the decision at No. 28, a source confirmed, was between Charlton and Washington cornerback Kevin King.
The lack of edge rushers after the first round was decisive in the team's decision to go with Charlton.
"That's how the draft was set up, to help us get a good pressure player at the bottom of the first round,'' executive vice president Stephen Jones said. "As good as that was, I think the draft sets up even better for us to get a really nice corner at the bottom of the second."
Time will tell if the Dallas Cowboys got the "war daddy" that owner Jerry Jones coveted.
But they got the best pass rusher left on their draft board when they selected Michigan defensive end Taco Charlton with the 28th overall pick.
It was a never a secret that the Cowboys were taking a defensive player in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft. They had major needs at defensive end, cornerback and safety.
But a Cowboys team that has consistently struggled to get pressure on the quarterback for more than a few years badly wanted an impact pass rusher, and they believe a still-developing Charlton can fill that need.
That is a fair assessment of the Cowboys first round pick. Taco was a late developer for the Wolverines in college, but once he got started Charlton seemed to be unchecked in his development. He has to continue that as a professional.
The mothership weighs in with a look at how first round pick Taco Charlton will fit in to what Rod Marinelli likes the Cowboys to do on defense.
Considered one of the most talented pass rushers in this year’s class, Charlton became a full-time starter at Michigan as a senior and made first-team All-Big Ten with 9.5 sacks and 13 tackles for loss. He improved all four seasons in college, increasing his quarterback sack totals from none in 10 games as a freshman; 3.5 in 12 games (one start) as a sophomore; 5.5 in 13 games (three starts) as a junior; and a team-high 9.5 in 11 starts as a senior
Now the big test begins as Charlton brings his game to the professional ranks.
Dallas Cowboys' 2017 draft picks: Analysis for every selection - Todd Archer, ESPN
The Cowboys have long needed to invest some serious draft capital in the pass rush and on Thursday night they did just that. Todd Archer gives us his take on the front office's choice of Taco Charlton and also sets the stage for where the team is likely to go from here.
The Cowboys have made no secret about their desire to improve their pass rush. That was their hope in 2016, 2015 and 2014. It will be their hope in 2018 as well even with the selection of Charlton on Thursday.
There are few who offer the kind of insights that Bob Sturm delivers. Today the guru of all things Cowboys football delivers his take on the franchise's selection of Taco Charlton with the 28th overall selection in the draft.
Charlton has size that makes him a focal point of the defense and battles his tail off from the snap on. He bulls through traffic and makes himself at home in the backfield on a regular basis. He comes up big in big games. He has an impressive get-off as well and really has a skill set that offers plenty to like. I really love his traditional skill set in terms of looking how defensive ends always did. He can carry 280 pounds and play a style that will hold up well on the edge in terms of crashing a pocket with brute strength. I really like his compete level and his bull rush.
The biggest concern about a player like Charlton is simply his short-space quickness and ability to change direction.
VIDEO: Charlton says it's 'surreal' going to Cowboys - ESPN
A quick reaction from taco Charlton himself. I love his choice of the word "surreal"; it seems like the reaction that most of us would have if given the opportunity to earn the star.
Our sister site here at SB Nation has a vested interest in Charlton since he carries the pride of one of college football's most honored programs with him into the NFL. Let's look at how they covered Taco's selection.
Taco was a very desirable candidate for a lot of teams at the next level, after having racked up 18.5 sacks and 94 tackles at U-M. He also played a key role in run support and locker room leadership here.
Taco also got noticeably better with each passing season. That’s a good sign as he transitions to a whole new dimension of competition, and it signals that we might not know his ceiling yet.
BB weighs in with his assessment of Taco Charlton. Unlike many of us, Broaddus has actually earned his bread and butter by evaluating talent for an NFL front office, so it is always nice to get a look at things through his eye.
Very steady but doesn’t make those "Wow" plays. Very good comparison by Dane Brugler of CBS Sports/DallasCowboys.com of Justin Tuck formally of the New York Giants. Might be a little bit of a late bloomer.
Interesting to see that he compares Charlton to Justin Tuck. I can live with that.