Dallas Cowboys: 5 Players on the roster bubble after 2019 NFL Draft
By Randy Gurzi
1. Taco Charlton, DE
Probably the least surprising name on this list comes in at No. 1 in Taco Charlton. The team’s first-round pick in 2017, Charlton’s selection was met with a collective sigh from the entire fan base. With names such as T.J. Watt and Juju Smith-Schuster on the board (both who landed with the Pittsburgh Steelers) as well as many cornerbacks who were highly rated, the Cowboys went with the Michigan defensive end who underwhelmed in his workouts following his last season in college.
Dallas apparently fell in love with the measurables and preferred his length and experience with his hand in the dirt over what Watt offered. Watt has since flourished whereas Charlton has struggled to see the field.
After recording 19 tackles and three sacks as a rookie, he was able to start seven games to start his second season. The problem was he didn’t do a whole lot as a pass rusher and was taken off the field on third downs in favor of Randy Gregory.
This season, he won’t start unless something happens to Robert Quinn. Instead, his best bet will be to try and get in as a rotational player behind Quinn and star left end DeMarcus Lawrence. The good news for him is should that happen, he would still get plenty of opportunities to shine as defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli loves to attack with waves of fresh defensive linemen.
The bad news is, the Cowboys brought in a lot of competition. We already discussed how many players are in the mix when looking at Kerry Hyder which is the same boat Charlton is in. On top of that, his contract will pay him more than twice as much as Hyder in 2019 according to OverTheCap.com.
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That could also help Charlton as the team would lose money by cutting Charlton. Nevertheless, this is a huge season for him and he needs to prove he’s not a bust or this could be his final shot with the Cowboys.