2017 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Taco Charlton

2017 NFL Draft Scouting Reports - Choose Player 2017 NFL Draft Scouting Reports - Home Jamal Adams, S, LSU Montravius Adams, DT, Auburn Jonathan Allen, DT, Alabama Ryan Anderson, LB, Alabama Chidobe Awuzie, CB, Colorado Budda Baker, S, Washington Derek Barnett, DE, Tennessee Garett Bolles, OT, Utah Tyus Bowser, OLB, Houston Caleb Brantley, DT, Florida Jake Butt, TE, Michigan Taco Charlton, DE, Michigan Nick Chubb, RB, Georgia Gareon Conley, CB, Ohio State Dalvin Cook, RB, Florida State Zach Cunningham, LB, Vanderbilt Julie'n Davenport, OT, Bucknell Corey Davis, WR, Western Michigan Jarrad Davis, LB, Florida Pat Elflein, G, Ohio State Evan Engram, TE, Ole Miss Gerald Everett, TE, South Alabama Dan Feeney, G, Indiana Devonte Fields, OLB, TCU Isaiah Ford, WR, Virginia Tech D'Onta Foreman, RB, Texas Reuben Foster, LB, Alabama Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU Wayne Gallman, RB, Clemson Myles Garrett, DE, Texas A&M Davon Godchaux, DT, LSU Charles Harris, DE, Missouri Marquis Haynes, DE, Ole Miss Malik Hooker, S, Ohio State O.J. Howard, TE, Alabama Marlon Humphrey, CB, Alabama Adoree' Jackson, CB, USC Roderick Johnson, OT, Florida State Josh Jones, S, N.C. State Sidney Jones, CB, Washington Zay Jones, WR, East Carolina Brad Kaaya, QB, Miami Alvin Kamara, RB, Tennessee Chad Kelly, QB, Ole Miss Desmond King, CB, Iowa Kevin King, CB, Washington DeShone Kizer, QB, Notre Dame Tanoh Kpassagnon, DE, Villanova Cooper Kupp, WR, Eastern Washington Forrest Lamp, G, Western Kentucky Marshon Lattimore, CB, Onio State Jourdan Lewis, CB, Michigan Lowell Lotulelei, DT, Utah Pat Mahomes, QB, Texas Tech Marcus Maye, S, Florida Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford Malik McDowell, DT, Michigan State Takkarist McKinley, DE/LB, UCLA Raekwon McMillan, LB, Ohio State Obi Melifonwu, S, Connecticut Joe Mixon, RB, Oklahoma Fabian Moreau, CB, UCLA David Njoku, TE, Miami Jabrill Peppers, S, Michigan Ethan Pocic, C, LSU Ryan Ramczyk, OT, Wisconsin Haason Reddick, LB, Temple Cam Robinson, OT, Alabama John Ross, WR, Washington Curtis Samuel, WR, Ohio State Juju Smith-Schuster, WR, USC Dawuane Smoot, DE, Illinois Jalen Tabor, CB, Florida Cordrea Tankersley, CB, Clemson Solomon Thomas, DE, Stanford Mitch Trubisky, QB, North Carolina Anthony Walker, LB, Northwestern Demarcus Walker, DE, Florida State DeShaun Watson, QB, Clemson T.J. Watt, LB, Wisconsin Davis Webb, QB, California Tre'Davious White, CB, LSU Marcus Williams, S, Utah Mike Williams, WR, Clemson Tim Williams, DE, Alabama Jordan Willis, DE, Kansas State Quincy Wilson, CB, Florida Chris Wormley, DE, Michigan

Taco Charlton, 6-6/277 Defensive End Michigan

Taco Charlton Scouting Report
By Charlie Campbell

Strengths:

Dangerous pass-rusher

Fast around the corner

Uses hands and feet at same time

Repertoire of pass-rushing moves

Good spin move

Impressive rip move

Puts quarterbacks down hard

Very athletic

Fast get off

Can beat tackles with speed or power

Has the strength to shed blocks

Fast in pursuit

Fires his gap to create disruption in backfield

Gap sound

Solid run defender

Enough quickness to beat tackles

Gap sound

Can hold his ground at the point of attack

Enough quickness to beat tackles

Quick to cut to the inside

Can close on the quarterback in a hurry

Gives a second effort to get sacks

Displays some natural pass-rushing skills

Big athletic upside

Weaknesses:

Gets in trouble when he plays too high

Needs to improve instincts

Needs to improve awareness

Has some toughness question marks

Summary: Michigan has big group of prospects for the 2017 NFL Draft and in speaking with NFL sources, Charlton is the heavy favorite to be the first Wolverine drafted. The media hype would suggest Jabrill Peppers, but NFL teams are a lot more excited about Charlton. A 6-foot-6, 277-pounder with speed and athleticism is a tough commodity to find, so Charlton will have plenty of teams interested in drafting him in the first round.

Entering his senior year, Charlton rotated into the game but wasn’t an every-down player. As a sophomore, he had 19 tackles and 3.5 sacks. His junior year saw him total 30 tackles with 5.5 sacks. Charlton broke out in 2016 with 9.5 sacks, 43 tackles and 13 tackles for a loss. He was excellent late in the year, including a dominant game against Ohio State to finish the regular season before eating up Florida State in his bowl game.

In the ground game, Charlton is impressive. Sources have said they were impressed with his ability to hold his gap, fight off blocks, and make tackles at the point of attack. He is strong to get free of offensive line with the speed to make tackles outside of his gap. Charlton is a quality run defender entering the NFL.

For the NFL, there is a lot to like about Charlton as he looks like he could be a double-digit sacker who puts a lot of pressure on the quarterback. Charlton is fast off the line with a good get-off and speed that catches offensive linemen by surprise. He is fast to turn the corner and can use his hands at the same time as his feet. Despite a lack of experience, Charlton shows some variety in moves, including an outside rip move and a spin back to the inside. When Charlton gets to the quarterback, he puts him down hard with some rattling hits on quarterbacks. Charlton is fast in pursuit and closes in a hurry. He is a great athlete with a ton of upside for the NFL.

Given how talented and physically gifted Charlton is, one wonders why it took him so long to become an every-down player. Sources said that the staff at Michigan had questions about Charlton’s toughness and ability to go the distance. Hence, he was used more rotationally as a sophomore and junior. Charlton is going to need good NFL coaching to help keep him engaged and grinding during tough stretches.

For the NFL, Charlton’s best fit would come as a base end in a 4-3 defense. He does have the length and athletic ability to standup as a 3-4 outside linebacker. He also could move down and play some 3-4 defensive end in some situations. Charlton is versatile with scheme flexibility. It wouldn’t be surprising if he becomes a Pro Bowl defensive end during his rookie contract.



Player Comparison: Carlos Dunlap. Sources have compared Charlton to Dunlap. Both are big, stout base ends who have the speed to turn the corner and rush the quarterback. Dunlap fell to the second round of his draft class because of some off-the-field concerns, but he was widely regarded as a first-round talent. Dunlap has turned into an excellent pro defender, and Charlton could be the same quality of player.

NFL Matches: New York Jets, Cincinnati, New Orleans, Indianapolis, Baltimore, Washington, Detroit, Miami

There are a lot of potential fits for Charlton in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft. In the top 10, there are two possible landing spots for Charlton with the Jets being the first at No. 6 overall. The Jets could use an edge rusher, but No. 4 seems a little too high. At No. 9, Cincinnati might be a fit. The Bengals have Margus Hunt in free agency, while Michael Johnson is a limited player. Charlton could be the pass-rushing end to go on the other side of Carlos Dunlap with Geno Atkins disrupting from the inside.

The Saints have to upgrade their defense and improve their pass defense. They need an edge rusher across from Cam Jordan, and it sounds like the team’s preference is adding a pass-rusher first with secondary help to follow. Charlton could be in play for New Orleans with the 11th-overall pick.

Indianapolis needs help all over its defense, and Charlton would instantly upgrade it. John Simon and Jabaal Sheard are more complementary pass-rushers, while Charlton would give the Colts a lead dog.

The Ravens need more pass rush after cutting Elvis Dumervil. Charlton would make sense for Baltimore.

The Redskins want to get younger and more athletic up front. Charlton would be able to play five-technique defensive end in a 3-4, or 4-3 end or tackle for Washington.

Among the playoff teams, Charlton shouldn’t fall past two of the teams in the early 20s. The Lions could use defensive line help. Charlton could upgrade their edge rush across from Ziggy Ansah. Miami could use a young defensive end after cutting Mario Williams and given the age of Cameron Wake.

2017 NFL Draft Scouting Reports - Choose Player 2017 NFL Draft Scouting Reports - Home Jamal Adams, S, LSU Montravius Adams, DT, Auburn Jonathan Allen, DT, Alabama Ryan Anderson, LB, Alabama Chidobe Awuzie, CB, Colorado Budda Baker, S, Washington Derek Barnett, DE, Tennessee Garett Bolles, OT, Utah Tyus Bowser, OLB, Houston Caleb Brantley, DT, Florida Jake Butt, TE, Michigan Taco Charlton, DE, Michigan Nick Chubb, RB, Georgia Gareon Conley, CB, Ohio State Dalvin Cook, RB, Florida State Zach Cunningham, LB, Vanderbilt Julie'n Davenport, OT, Bucknell Corey Davis, WR, Western Michigan Jarrad Davis, LB, Florida Pat Elflein, G, Ohio State Evan Engram, TE, Ole Miss Gerald Everett, TE, South Alabama Dan Feeney, G, Indiana Devonte Fields, OLB, TCU Isaiah Ford, WR, Virginia Tech D'Onta Foreman, RB, Texas Reuben Foster, LB, Alabama Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU Wayne Gallman, RB, Clemson Myles Garrett, DE, Texas A&M Davon Godchaux, DT, LSU Charles Harris, DE, Missouri Marquis Haynes, DE, Ole Miss Malik Hooker, S, Ohio State O.J. Howard, TE, Alabama Marlon Humphrey, CB, Alabama Adoree' Jackson, CB, USC Roderick Johnson, OT, Florida State Josh Jones, S, N.C. State Sidney Jones, CB, Washington Zay Jones, WR, East Carolina Brad Kaaya, QB, Miami Alvin Kamara, RB, Tennessee Chad Kelly, QB, Ole Miss Desmond King, CB, Iowa Kevin King, CB, Washington DeShone Kizer, QB, Notre Dame Tanoh Kpassagnon, DE, Villanova Cooper Kupp, WR, Eastern Washington Forrest Lamp, G, Western Kentucky Marshon Lattimore, CB, Onio State Jourdan Lewis, CB, Michigan Lowell Lotulelei, DT, Utah Pat Mahomes, QB, Texas Tech Marcus Maye, S, Florida Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford Malik McDowell, DT, Michigan State Takkarist McKinley, DE/LB, UCLA Raekwon McMillan, LB, Ohio State Obi Melifonwu, S, Connecticut Joe Mixon, RB, Oklahoma Fabian Moreau, CB, UCLA David Njoku, TE, Miami Jabrill Peppers, S, Michigan Ethan Pocic, C, LSU Ryan Ramczyk, OT, Wisconsin Haason Reddick, LB, Temple Cam Robinson, OT, Alabama John Ross, WR, Washington Curtis Samuel, WR, Ohio State Juju Smith-Schuster, WR, USC Dawuane Smoot, DE, Illinois Jalen Tabor, CB, Florida Cordrea Tankersley, CB, Clemson Solomon Thomas, DE, Stanford Mitch Trubisky, QB, North Carolina Anthony Walker, LB, Northwestern Demarcus Walker, DE, Florida State DeShaun Watson, QB, Clemson T.J. Watt, LB, Wisconsin Davis Webb, QB, California Tre'Davious White, CB, LSU Marcus Williams, S, Utah Mike Williams, WR, Clemson Tim Williams, DE, Alabama Jordan Willis, DE, Kansas State Quincy Wilson, CB, Florida Chris Wormley, DE, Michigan

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