Taco Charlton

Charlton signed with the Kansas City Chiefs on May 4, 2020.

In 2019, he entered training camp with his roster spot in jeopardy, even though Randy Gregory was suspended indefinitely and there were injuries among the defensive ends. The media reported about a meeting he had with defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli in the offseason, about concerns with his development.

On September 18, 2019 season, two weeks into the season, Charlton was released by the team to make room to activate suspended defensive end Quinn, after Dallas failed to find a trade partner. His tenure with the Cowboys was one of the shortest for a first-round draft choice in franchise history, that didn't involve a career-ending injury.

On September 19, 2019, Charlton was claimed off waivers by the Miami Dolphins. Charlton made his debut with the Dolphins in week 3 against his former team, the Dallas Cowboys. In the game, Charlton recorded 2 tackles and one sack as the Dolphins lost 31-6. In week 4 against the Los Angeles Chargers, Charlton recorded 6 tackles and a sack on Philip Rivers in the 30-10 loss. Although he started 5 games and finished as the team's leader with 5 sacks. He was declared inactive in 4 contests, including 3 of the last 4 games. He finished with 21 tackles (14 solo), 5 sacks and 2 forced fumbles.

In 2018, he had to compete for playing time against Tyrone Crawford, Randy Gregory and Dorance Armstrong. He came up with the nickname "Hot Boyz" for the defensive line. It was also portrayed in the media that he started falling out of favor with the defensive coaching staff.

Coming out of Michigan, Charlton was projected by the majority of NFL draft experts and analysts to be a first round pick. He received an invitation to the NFL combine and completed all required combine and positional drills. On March 24, 2017, he attended Michigan's Pro Day, along with Jake Butt, Jabrill Peppers, Jehu Chesson, Jeremy Clark, Amara Darboh, Ben Gedeon, Ryan Glasgow, Lano Hill, Jourdan Lewis, Chris Wormley, De'Veon Smith, Channing Stribling, and seven other prospects.

Charlton was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the first round (28th overall) of the 2017 NFL Draft. He was the seventh defensive end selected and the second of eleven players drafted from Michigan.

On May 11, 2017, the Dallas Cowboys signed Charlton to a four-year, $10.02 million contract that includes $7.73 million guaranteed and a signing bonus of $5.43 million. He competed with Benson Mayowa, Charles Tapper, and Damontre Moore throughout training camp for a backup defensive end position. The coaching staff named Charlton the backup left defensive end behind DeMarcus Lawrence, who went on to have a breakout season and tied for second in the league with 14.5 sacks.

As a senior in 2016, he became a starter at right defensive end in a 4-3 defense. He suffered a high ankle sprain in the season opener and was forced to miss the next 2 games. He returned in the fourth game against Penn State University, posting 3 tackles (2 for loss) and 1.5 sacks. He had 3 tackles and 2 sacks against Rutgers University. He made 9 tackles (3 for loss) and 2.5 sacks against Ohio State University. He finished with 43 tackles (13 for loss), 2 pass breakups and led the team with 9.5 sacks (tenth in school history). He was also named to the All-Big Ten defensive first-team, by both the coaches and media.

As a junior in 2015, he was defensive end in a 3-4 defense, appearing in 13 games with three starts, while recording 30 tackles (8.5 for loss), 5.5 sacks, 3 quarterback hurries and one forced fumble.

Charlton accepted a football scholarship from the University of Michigan. As a true freshman in 2013, he appeared in 10 games as a backup defensive end, playing mostly on special teams, while compiling 2 defensive tackles (half for a loss). As a sophomore in 2014, he appeared in 12 games with one start, making 19 tackles (5.5 for loss), 3.5 sacks and 3 quarterback hurries.

Charlton made his regular season debut in the Dallas Cowboys' season-opener against the New York Giants and finished without any statistic in the 19–3 victory. The following game, he made his first career tackle during the Cowboys' 17–42 loss to the Denver Broncos. He started the season slow, remaining a backup behind DeMarcus Lawrence, who had 14.5 sacks, and Tyrone Crawford. He recorded his first career sack against the Kansas City Chiefs. In the twelfth game against the Washington Redskins, he had 2 tackles, one sack and one forced fumble. He played sparingly as a backup, appearing in 16 games, while posting 19 tackles (one for loss), one pass defended, one forced fumble, 11 quarterback hurries and 3 sacks, with two of them coming in the last nine games.

Vidauntae "Taco" Charlton (born November 7, 1994) is an American football defensive end for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft. He played college football at Michigan. He also played for the Miami Dolphins.