Ex-Cowboys, Dolphins DE Taco Charlton: Foot on the Gas After Chiefs Contract

Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Taco Charlton is ready to give the team his all after disappointing stints with the Dallas Cowboys and Miami Dolphins.

He told Adam Teicher of ESPN:

"My foot is on the gas for this one. I'm not saying I gave my full effort everywhere I've been. All [previous] situations, things came to an end and it was kind of mutual. It wasn't really much of a surprise. ... I was feeling kind of out of position a little bit in the past. This year, I feel like I'll be comfortable and use my talents to the best of my ability."

Charlton, 25, was drafted by the Cowboys with the 28th overall pick in 2017. He didn't live up to that billing, registering just 46 tackles and four sacks in Dallas in two seasons (27 games). The Cowboys released him in September.

He played a bit better for the Dolphins in 2019 after they claimed him on waivers with five sacks and two forced fumbles in 10 contests, though it wasn't enough for the team to retain him. The Dolphins released him April 30, and the Chiefs then signed him to a one-year deal.

Charlton told Teicher that talking with Chiefs edge-rusher Frank Clark, his former teammate at Michigan, helped seal the deal on signing with Kansas City:

"It was a place I was looking forward to coming. Once I cleared [waivers], Frank was on the phone and we were talking. Nothing else really mattered. Money-wise, nothing really mattered. I just wanted to play football and wanted to go to a good situation where I could play some good football and add myself to a good defense."

Charlton will have competition for playing time as he looks to resurrect his career. Clark and Alex Okafor serve as starters, while Tanoh Kpassagnon, Breeland Speaks and rookie Mike Danna are also on the depth chart.