Nobody should be surprised if the Dolphins use their first-round pick on a defensive lineman, and one of the players being considered with that 22nd overall pick said Miami has invited him to visit team headquarters.
Taco Charlton, the Michigan defensive end who had 9.5 sacks last season, told The Detroit Free Press that he will visit Davie to meet with Dolphins officials.
Charlton had that high sack total despite playing with an ankle sprain last season.
ESPN’s Mel Kiper predicts Charlton will slip to 31st Charlton “because a 4.92 40 at 6-6, 277 at the combine was concerning. He's still a first-round talent, however. Charlton has long arms (34¼ inches) and active hands and takes ideal angles when rushing the passer.”
ESPN’s Todd McShay has Charlton going 28th to Dallas. “Charlton is just a solid all-around player -- he can get after the QB and stop the run,” McShay said. “He has always had the raw ability, but this past season he showed more consistency and refined technique, finishing the season on a tear (10 sacks in his final 10 games).”
The Dolphins are using several of their 30 permitted visits on defensive ends, and we’re told Arkansas’ Dietrich Wise Jr. also has been scheduled for a visit.
The 6-5, 271-pounder had eight sacks in 2015 but just 3.5 last year while dealing with assorted injuries that limited his snaps.
Here is Zierlein’s assessment of Wise on NFL.com:
BOTTOM LINE: Slow-twitch power player with rare physical attributes but a lack of functional athleticism to chalk up a stat sheet. Might have been miscast as a 4-3 defensive end considering his lack of quickness and rush talent. But his length and power at the point of attack could make him an attractive Day 3 (Rounds 4-7) draft option for 3-4 teams looking for a two-gapping defensive end with the traits to bounce back from a disappointing senior season.
