Steelers add former 1st-round draft pick Taco Charlton to practice squad
Four years ago, Taco Charlton was picked two spots ahead of T.J. Watt in the NFL Draft.
On Tuesday, they became teammates.
The Pittsburgh Steelers signed Charlton, a 6-foot-6, 270-pound defensive end, to the practice squad. The transaction was made one day after nose tackle Tyson Alualu was placed on injured reserve after he had right ankle surgery. Defensive lineman Henry Mondeaux was promoted to the active roster, creating a spot on the practice squad that Charlton filled.
The Dallas Cowboys selected Charlton with the No. 28 pick in the 2017 draft, but he didn’t pan out as well as Watt, who was taken by the Steelers at No. 30. While Watt has amassed 52 1/2 career starts in 64 NFL games, Charlton has yet to find a permanent home.
Charlton’s stay with the Cowboys lasted two seasons, and he was claimed off waivers by the Miami Dolphins in September 2019. After one season in Miami, Charlton spent one season with the Kansas City Chiefs, who re-signed him to another one-year deal this year only to release Charlton in August.
In 44 NFL games, Charlton has 11 sacks, five coming with the Dolphins in 2019.
Joe Rutter is a TribLive reporter who has covered the Pittsburgh Steelers since the 2016 season. A graduate of Greensburg Salem High School and Point Park, he is in his fifth decade covering sports for the Trib. He can be reached at jrutter@triblive.com.
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