Saints Taco Charlton Has a Chance to Shed Draft Bust Label

Vidauntae (Taco) Charlton had an outstanding collegiate career at the University of Michigan. After a senior season that included ten sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss, the Dallas Cowboys made him the Number 28 selection in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft.

Taco was a rotational player as a rookie, playing all 16 contests but starting none. He appeared in 38% of the defensive snaps and contributed 3 sacks and 7 QB hits. Charlton was much more involved in 2018, playing in 56% of the snaps despite missing five games with a shoulder injury. In his 11 games (7 starts), he recorded a sack, 10 pressures, and five tackles for loss.

Amid reports of disagreements with Dallas defensive coaches, Charlton was inactive for the first two games of the 2019 season before surprisingly being released. The Miami Dolphins quickly picked him up on waivers. In ten games with Miami, Charlton recorded a career-high 5 sacks, 10 pressures, and 3 stops for loss. He’d be released after the season.

Kansas City brought Charlton in on a one-year contract in 2020. He’d play sporadically over the first half of the year, getting used mostly as a situational pass rusher. A broken ankle ended his season after just seven games with 2 sacks and 6 pressures.

The Pittsburgh Steelers would bring in Charlton last season. He saw limited action in 11 contests, but would appear in only 28% of the defensive snaps and contribute just a half sack and three pressures. New Orleans brought Charlton in on a one-year deal this offseason that will only count for a little over $1 million against the salary cap.

The Saints will be Charlton's fifth team in six years, definitely considered a disappointment for a former first-round choice. To revitalize his career, he’ll have to crack a New Orleans edge rotation that already has five top-tier players.

In order to shake the label of a draft bust, Charlton must improve exponentially as a run defender. It has been a major weakness throughout his career, but a must for edge defenders in an elite New Orleans run defense. He has the length and physical attributes that coaches covet. However, his toughness and play-to-play effort have been questioned since college.

As a pass rusher, the 27-year-old Charlton has incredible disruptive potential. He possesses an explosive burst off the snap and impressive lean around the edge. Once engaged with a tackle, he has effective counter moves to get him into the backfield.

Charlton doesn't have the physicality to move inside in some situations, like the other New Orleans ends. That lack of versatility means that he’ll have to stand out in other ways. Though his run defense must greatly improve, the most likely way to stick on the roster is as a situational pass rusher.

Taco Charlton has disappointed as a former first-round pick, but has the raw physical traits to turn his young career around. For a Saints defense that predicates heavy pressure, Charlton has the chance to be a surprise roster contributor in 2022.

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