2017 NFL Draft Grades: Mel Kiper Is Hung Up On The Value Of Drafting Taco Charlton At 28

[DBOY3141]

Mike Mayock and crew mentioned Charlton playing with the high ankle sprain a lot on NFL Network during the draft. That's a very relevant observation.

I stopped watching ESPN's draft coverage all together a few years ago.

Question for anyone who watched ESPN's coverage: Did Kiper & Company talk about Charlton playing through his injury? Just curious.

Sadly I have to watch ESPN because I do not have NFLN. I do not recall them mentioning the injury at all.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

From what I saw on film, Taco's primary skill set is stopping the run. Dude sheds blocks like a pro.

He looked to do that much better than pass rush, IMO.......for now.

Disengaging from the OT is a huge part of pass rushing in the NFL. Look at the OT in the NFCE alone. You cannot just out-quick them in this league.

 

[Bullflop]

Mike Mayock and crew mentioned Charlton playing with the high ankle sprain a lot on NFL Network during the draft. That's a very relevant observation.

I stopped watching ESPN's draft coverage all together a few years ago.

Question for anyone who watched ESPN's coverage: Did Kiper & Company talk about Charlton playing through his injury? Just curious.

Well, gotta admit, I'm stumped concerning your query . . . I quit paying attention to the ramblings of ESPN a long time ago.

 

[TheHerd]

Didn't he also give us a bad grade for 2016?

That worked out well for him.

He gave us a C right after last year's draft.
Granted that no one knew about Dak, but I still love re-reading all the comments:

"Dak Prescott is a solid guy to have on the bench, but I question the starting upside, and I had Brandon Allen ranked higher."

 

[TheHerd]

Sadly I have to watch ESPN because I do not have NFLN. I do not recall them mentioning the injury at all.

Listening to the dc.com guys is the only way to watch the draft. Superior to any of the networks.

 

[TheHerd]

I dont really see what the big deal is with his evaluation. It basically mirrors what Dallas thought as well. They admitted they didnt have him as a first round talent. They also said there was one other guy that they passed on that WAS a first round talent. And apparently that was King, whom Kiper says was a better player at the time.

Nope, they admitted the only 1st round grade was on a RB. BPA is always the best choice right? Should they have taken Dalvin Cook at 28 then (I'm guessing that's who was the last first round grade)?

 

[DallasEast]

Well, gotta admit, I'm stumped concerning your query . . . I quit paying attention to the ramblings of ESPN a long time ago.

NFL Network's draft coverage could be better with more video game highlights of selected players and less repetitive analysis. One pet peeve of mine is that the draft is a one-time highlight in a young person's life. I couldn't care less if it's the first, seventh or any round in-between. A player should have the opportunity to hear their name called on stage by their new team but some players can't because people are running off at the mouth.

That said, I got completely away from ESPN's draft coverage because it de-evolved into all-day pompous windbag orgy. Kiper is the worst. At least when Mayock hasn't evaluated a player, he will say so and apologize. I can remember Kiper talking about the merits of drafting players but confessed not knowing very much about them. How can you formulate an 'informed' opinion about someone you know squat about? smh.

 

[Kaiser]

That said, I got completely away from ESPN's draft coverage because it de-evolved into all-day pompous windbag orgy. Kiper is the worst.

Agree. As ADPWO's go, Kiper is the worst.

For the last five years or so I had the draft on with the volume set on mute.

 

[Bullflop]

NFL Network's draft coverage could be better with more video game highlights of selected players and less repetitive analysis. One pet peeve of mine is that the draft is a one-time highlight in a young person's life. I couldn't care less if it's the first, seventh or any round in-between. A player should have the opportunity to hear their name called on stage by their new team but some players can't because people are running off at the mouth.

That said, I got completely away from ESPN's draft coverage because it de-evolved into all-day pompous windbag orgy. Kiper is the worst. At least when Mayock hasn't evaluated a player, he will say so and apologize. I can remember Kiper talking about the merits of drafting players but confessed not knowing very much about them. How can you formulate an 'informed' opinion about someone you know squat about? smh.

Kiper is far from the only one that fell into the category that you mention. There's definitely a valid reason why ESPN has plummeted in their ratings and was forced to seriously downsize their staff. They've been known for espousing an agenda and following it relentlessly to prove their point, no matter what the legitimate truth and reality might demand. They're apparently paying the price for it now, at long last.

 

[DBOY3141]

Listening to the dc.com guys is the only way to watch the draft. Superior to any of the networks.

I will make a note of that for next year. thanks.

 

[BourbonBalz]

I dont really see what the big deal is with his evaluation. It basically mirrors what Dallas thought as well. They admitted they didnt have him as a first round talent. They also said there was one other guy that they passed on that WAS a first round talent. And apparently that was King, whom Kiper says was a better player at the time.

Look, this was a NEED draft 100%. Forget about BPA. We just were fortunate enough that DE and Corner was so deep it played right into that strategy. But make no mistake, they reached for Taco. He was a 100% need pick. Now I dont think it was a big reach, but they passed on better players because of need and position availability.

Im fine with it. But I am not one of these guys sitting here thinking we just got our war daddy. I think he can be an decent RDE, but has more upside at being a very good LDE. Will be great against the run with pass rush moves to get to the QB. And could possible slide inside on some passing downs. We NEED a war daddy at RDE and I just dont think this pick was it. Hard to do at 28. Not disappointed, just realistic.

No, the only player they had a first round grade on that was left when we picked Taco was a running back. Obviously we weren't taking a RB in the first round.

 

[pupulehaole]

Who cares.....

 

[StylisticS]

Mike Mayock and crew mentioned Charlton playing with the high ankle sprain a lot on NFL Network during the draft. That's a very relevant observation.

I stopped watching ESPN's draft coverage all together a few years ago.

Question for anyone who watched ESPN's coverage: Did Kiper & Company talk about Charlton playing through his injury? Just curious.

See. I did not hear ESPN talk about that at all.

 

[CowboyRoy]

So who did Mel consider a "premier pass-rusher" at pick #28?
Watt would have been a situational pass rusher in our scheme and cannot play the run like Charlton can. And Watt isn't a three-down lineman.
I also don't see how passing on Kenny King is a big miss when this draft was deep in secondary talent.
But we will see this year and three years down the road.

Nope, they admitted the only 1st round grade was on a RB. BPA is always the best choice right? Should they have taken Dalvin Cook at 28 then (I'm guessing that's who was the last first round grade)?

Ok, because I read it was King. And no BPA is not always the right choice in my opinion. If your team stinks then yah, BPA makes the most sense. But this team is loaded on one side and not on the other. Like I said, BDPA was what I would have done with EVERY pick this year.

 

[Denim Chicken]

Disengaging from the OT is a huge part of pass rushing in the NFL. Look at the OT in the NFCE alone. You cannot just out-quick them in this league.

Concur, in addition to his well know spin move:

Strength / Bull Rush:

Rip/Grab:

Long arms come in handy too:

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Concur, in addition to his well know spin move:

Strength:

Not sure what to call this move. Kind of jukes one way and drops his shoulder:

Long arms come in handy too:

That second one is a bull rush where he swims over the shoulder to disengage. I really like that inside out move he uses in the third. Counters within counters. Nice finds, sir.

 

[Blast From The Past]

Here why you have to laugh at people like Kiper. I know Risen worships him as the godfather of mocks but even Kiper is prone to show idiocy from time to time.

On April 6th, he talked to the Atlanta Journal Constitution about the Falcons and said this:



So apparently, on April 6th, Charlton is a pass rusher that can possibly be had in the late first round and would fill a need for Atlanta at the 31st pick.

On April 28th, Charlton isn't really a pass rusher but is more of an edge-setting run defender and not a good pick for the Cowboys at 28.

Oh the irony abounds

 

[UncleOscar]

To look at Taco without getting some perspective might leave you second guessing but when you look at what was going on it's easier to understand why the perceived inconsistency. For starters not many do well as a freshman and he came in skinny and had to work at bulking up. But more importantly Michigan had a defensive scheme change and/or coaching change every season he was there. He was moved all over. Harbaugh came his junior year and after that year the D-Coordinator left to take a head coaching job. Harbaugh brought in Don Brown who installed a 4-3 and put him at weakside end and that's when you saw Taco thrive. Imagine what his ceiling will be with consistency and Marinelli's coaching.

 

[Denim Chicken]

That second one is a bull rush where he swims over the shoulder to disengage. I really like that inside out move he uses in the third. Counters within counters. Nice finds, sir.

He's got a little more in his repertoire than he's given credit for. Can't wait to see how he develops with Lett and Ware helping him out.

 

[Verdict]

I am not a fan of Kevin King,he is not fluid enough and his size seems like a hindrance sometimes.I would gladly take Awuzie at 60.

I never mentioned King.