2017 NFL Combine: 10 Players to watch from Big Ten
By Ryan McNeill
3. Taco Charlton, DE, Michigan
While Taco Charlton’s teammate, Jabrill Peppers, stole most of the headlines last season, it’s Charlton who looks to be a higher draft pick. He’s 6-foot-6 and 272 pounds with elite athleticism, so it’s Charlton that looks to be a high first-round pick in the upcoming NFL Draft.
One thing that might scare NFL teams is that Charlton wasn’t able to earn significant playing until his senior season. While Charlton had a monster senior season that saw him named first-team All-Big Ten honors after leading Michigan with 9.5 sacks among his 13 tackles for loss, the fact he struggled to see the field his first three seasons may cause some NFL teams to question how he’ll adapt at the next level.
According to Lance Zierlien on Charlton’s NFL Draft Combine profile, the talented DE has to prove that he can be more consistent.
"“Inconsistent” has been the buzzword that has followed Charlton since coming to Michigan, but he began the process of shaking it during his senior season. Charlton is an ascending prospect with the size, length, athleticism and pass-rushing potential that NFL general managers dream of. What you see today might not be what you get. While his production coming out of college will be modest, he could become a substantially better player as a pro if he’s committed to the weight room and willing to absorb coaching. High-impact defensive end with all-pro potential is his ceiling. His floor is solid starter."
The question is if NFL teams want to invest a first round pick on a “solid” starter or if they want to roll the dice on a player with star potential.