The forgotten draft pick

[erod]

I was dadgum hard on Taco Charlton last year. Lots of us were. He wasn't worthy of that draft position, I still contend, and he looked weak and overmatched, like an undrafted free agent might.

Nobody talks about him. He's kind of already been tossed into the Kavika Pittman file to keep company with Shante and Ebennezer. Many of us turned that page in bustful disgust.

But......if.

If that guy turns into a real player worthy of his draft position, then the entirety of this defense could change. Add a LB and DT in the early rounds, sign a safety in free agency, and with the sudden promise in the secondary, things could get far more interesting on that side of the ball.

Geez, I'd like to see real defense played here again. It's been a hundred years.

Jaylon Smith's recovery and improvement is also key, but Taco could hold the key to it all. You add a bookend opposite of Demarcus Lawrence, who's the happiest franchise tag in NFL history, and you really be on to something here.

But........if. I don't like "ifs" but maybe this one will be different.

 

[Aviano90]

Let’s hope he doesn’t get too good. We won’t want to pay him.

 

[HungryLion]

Taco played much better as the season went on.

I think he will at least be a solid DE. Maybe never a star. Maybe never a 10+ sack guy. But an overall god defensive end.

 

[erod]

Taco played much better as the season went on.

I think he will at least be a solid DE. Maybe never a star. Maybe never a 10+ sack guy. But an overall god defensive end.

Not really. He was a speed bump against the run, and his pass rush was more about offensive mistakes than anything dominant.

But a real offseason in the weight room and with Marinelli has done wonders for other guys, so we'll see.

 

[Daillest88]

He improved toward the end, raw talent but good work ethic , believe he will be worth the first rounder when all said and done

 

[Stash]

I was dadgum hard on Taco Charlton last year. Lots of us were. He wasn't worthy of that draft position, I still contend, and he looked weak and overmatched, like an undrafted free agent might.

Nobody talks about him. He's kind of already been tossed into the Kavika Pittman file to keep company with Shante and Ebennezer. Many of us turned that page in bustful disgust.

But......if.

If that guy turns into a real player worthy of his draft position, then the entirety of this defense could change. Add a LB and DT in the early rounds, sign a safety in free agency, and with the sudden promise in the secondary, things could get far more interesting on that side of the ball.

Geez, I'd like to see real defense played here again. It's been a hundred years.

Jaylon Smith's recovery and improvement is also key, but Taco could hold the key to it all. You add a bookend opposite of Demarcus Lawrence, who's the happiest franchise tag in NFL history, and you really be on to something here.

But........if. I don't like "ifs" but maybe this one will be different.

I was an admitted TJ Watt guy, and I still believe that he was the wiser pick. But having said that, I happily give credit where credit is due. Taco Charlton kept working, got better, and finished pretty well. I'm excited for the steps he might take next.

One thing that gives me a lot of hope is his work ethic. He's determined and doesn't quit. Even when he looked awful and was getting abused on the field, he never stopped coming. Never stopped working. I won't bet against a player with dogged determination like that succeeding.

I'm very excited to see what he looks like in 2018.

 

[conner01]

I didn’t feel Taco was BPA
But he did show improvement over the year and a good off season could do him some real good physically
So I’m more optimistic than I was on draft day

 

[glimmerman]

I was dadgum hard on Taco Charlton last year. Lots of us were. He wasn't worthy of that draft position, I still contend, and he looked weak and overmatched, like an undrafted free agent might.

Nobody talks about him. He's kind of already been tossed into the Kavika Pittman file to keep company with Shante and Ebennezer. Many of us turned that page in bustful disgust.

But......if.

If that guy turns into a real player worthy of his draft position, then the entirety of this defense could change. Add a LB and DT in the early rounds, sign a safety in free agency, and with the sudden promise in the secondary, things could get far more interesting on that side of the ball.

Geez, I'd like to see real defense played here again. It's been a hundred years.

Jaylon Smith's recovery and improvement is also key, but Taco could hold the key to it all. You add a bookend opposite of Demarcus Lawrence, who's the happiest franchise tag in NFL history, and you really be on to something here.

But........if. I don't like "ifs" but maybe this one will be different.

He is going to improve. He made a few plays towards the end of season. He will be a little heavier coming in this year. Lets hope he has worked in the offseason. Jaylon will be improved. Not sure how much.

Hope for the best, prepare for the worst, expect it to fall somewhere in between.

 

[Carter]

Was he playing? Cant even remember seeing him on the Field besides 1-2 stupid Taco Sack Celebrations against Third Stringers.

 

[kumizi]

Still need a DT, LB, and S.

With the lack of cap space and unwillingness to engage in free agency or the trade market, it’s just frustrating. I’d be pleasantly surprised if the Cowboys are creative enough to acquire an above average starter at all three positions.

 

[glimmerman]

19 tackles. 1 forced fumble. 1 pass deflected and 3 sacks. 400 snaps he played.

 

[John813]

All of his sacks came in relief of Law at the LDE spot.
I like depth, but I haven't seen much to say he could be a legit RDE. LDE maybe.

 

[DeaconMoss]

Im starting to warm up to a trade up for Roquan Smith.

 

[OmerV]

I don't think most are throwing him into the same category as Kavika Pittmen, I think he isn't talked about a lot simply because we are still in a wait and see mode with him. Overall in 2017 he didn't show enough for fans to be high on him, but he showed enough real progress late in the season that most fans aren't giving up on him. Accordingly, there isn't a lot to say - just wait and see.

 

[kiheikiwi]

We have a few players that this off-season is really important for.
Once we get past the excitment of the draft and we all start turning towards OTA's and back to on the field training, we will start hearing about players off-seasons.
Taco, needs to add muscle, strength and agility.
Same for Xavier Woods. Will they have ? Im counting on it. Can Jaylon continue to improve, what has the coaching staff told Maliek Collins - train for 3-tech, or bulk up for the 1.
What improvements has Dak worked on. And will Elliott come back in shape and ready to dominate the league after last year. Same for all the Oline.
It will be a big year for returning players, let alone what the draft brings us, good or bad.

 

[McKDaddy]

Im starting to warm up to a trade up for Roquan Smith.

No need, Roquan is or will be falling

 

[Typhus]

I thought the forgotten draft pick was Marquis White,, I still remember taco.

 

[condoin125]

I want him to work out, but I just remember him looking so slow to me.

 

[TheFinisher]

This is more an issue of erroneous fan expectations for a rookie DE selected late in the 1st Round.

If you expected Taco to come in year 1 and light the league on fire, that's your problem.

The reasonable minds understand the steep learning curve of that position.

The other side of this issue is the echo chamber of Cowboy fans who whined about the team selecting Taco over their pet cat TJ Watt. If enough people say he was a failed pick loud enough, that idea eventually spreads. The funny part about it was the masses who wrote him off before we even got to training camp.

 

[GenoT]

If Taco works hard in the preseason, he should at the very least be a solid contributor.

Tank, Irving and Taco doesn’t sound like a bad DE rotation.

Go out and get a @340lb root-hog DT and our D-line may turn the corner this year.