It’s become increasingly evident how bad the Chicago Bears defensive line is this year. That became even clearer after trading Robert Quinn to the Philadelphia Eagles. Their group of edge rushers has not produced a single sack since he left the team two weeks ago. Now Al-Quadin Muhammad is battling an injury. That leaves the position dangerously thin. So it appears GM Ryan Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus sought to find some help. They did so by plucking veteran Taco Charlton off of the New Orleans Saints’ practice squad.
Charlton was a 1st round pick of the Dallas Cowboys in 2017. His mixture of 6’6 size, long arms, good power, and underrated athleticism made him look like a future terror of quarterbacks. Things never quite came together for him. He left the team after two seasons and landed with the Miami Dolphins, where he had his best year, notching five sacks. In 2020 he signed with the Kansas City Chiefs. He quietly played great, collecting 12 pressures and two sacks in 56 pass rush snaps. Unfortunately, injuries ended his year after seven games. Then last season, he signed with Pittsburgh, where the awkward scheme fit saw his effectiveness plunge.
The Chicago Bears targeting Charlton isn’t a surprise.
They need pass rush help, as stated above. The former 1st round has the physical dimensions that Eberflus covets in defensive linemen. He likes guys with length. There is also the trend of them taking calculated risks on former high draft picks. They’ve added four players under age 30 that were drafted in the 1st or 2nd round this year, including Alex Leatherwood and N’Keal Harry. It is clear Poles is taking calculated risks on talent to see if Eberflus and the coaching staff can get something out of them other teams couldn’t.
Charlton has ridiculous ability. His problem has always been motor. When it runs hot, he can beat any blocker in the sport. When it doesn’t, he disappears. It will be interesting to see how he responds to the H.I.T.S principal on this team. The amazing part is he’s only 28 years old. His body doesn’t have the same wear and tear as other players his age usually do. Perhaps the prospect of real playing time will motivate him to step up. Even former 1st rounders only get so many chances.
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