5 draft prospects the Miami Dolphins should avoid

Taco Charlton – DE – Michigan

Michigan players are getting a lot of mentions this year especially after owner Stephen Ross thumped his fist half-joking and said he would push for Michigan players but wouldn’t really hold anyone to drafting them.

Enter Taco Charlton.

Charlton is a big 4-3 DE that would slide into the Dolphins rotation on day one. He has very good size and initial speed out of the snap and is capable of playing both sides of the defensive line although he has had more success against right tackles. In other words he would be more of a replacement for Cam Wake than a solution on the opposite side.

Where Charlton ends up on this list is located in his weaknesses. He is a two move player off the edge with a solid swim and spin technique according to Ian Wharton of NFL Film Study. But where he really is challenged is in the one area Miami needs to the most help. Against the run.

Charlton is not consistent in setting the outside edge and his read and react time is slow in diagnosing a running play. His speed limits him as well in pursuit and at times he can take the wrong angle or will be unable to get release off blocks on a running play.

This limits Charlton to more or less a pass rush specialist until he can be coached at the NFL level but as Wharton points out in his 2017 Draft Guide, “there is a real chance he’s never a quality starter in the NFL”. Which means Charlton is best suited to a rotational and situational role and that is not someone you draft with pick 22.

Of course if Charlton falls into round two then value changes depending on who else is available. The problem is that Charlton is going to get a lot of consideration from teams but in this deep draft, there are plenty of other players who could start unquestionably.