Dallas Cowboys First-Round Pick Taco Charlton Dominates in UFL Win

Former Dallas Cowboys first-round pick Taco Charlton has found himself in the UFL, where he dominated the season's second week of action.

Aug 24, 2019; Arlington, TX, USA; Houston Texans quarterback Joe Webb (5) is sacked by Dallas / Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

The road to success can often be a winding one, even for the highest-picked prospects in the NFL Draft.

Former Dallas Cowboys edge rusher Taco Charlton is just another example of the sport’s ability to test determination. The 28th pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, Charlton’s football journey has taken him through countless disappointments and redirections, but he’s still kicking.

It may not look like what he imagined coming out of Michigan, but Charlton is carving out a successful stint for himself – in the United Football League.

Aug 24, 2019; Arlington, TX, USA; Houston Texans quarterback Joe Webb (5) is sacked by Dallas / Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

In the UFL’s first season, Charlton has established himself as a force for the Birmingham Stallions.

On Sunday, Charlton showed out for three sacks and three tackles for loss in Birmingham’s 20-13 win over the Michigan Panthers.

The Stallions now hold sole possession of first place in the USFL division and are one of the two undefeated teams left through two weeks worth of games.

Birmingham entered the UFL – which merged the USFL and XFL – as back-to-back champions. With Charlton leading the pass rush, they look poised to compete for a third consecutive championship.

For the former NFL edge rusher, this kind of performance has been long-awaited. After spending parts of three seasons with Dallas, Charlton spent time on seven different rosters and practice squads. He finished 2019 with the Miami Dolphins before a season with the Kansas City Chiefs and Pittsburgh Steelers over the next two years. He saw time with the New Orleans Saints, Chicago Bears, and Jacksonville Jaguars before a brief stint with the NFC-champion San Francisco 49ers in 2023.

Birmingham, this season, is his first stint outside of the NFL universe. He signed with the team on March 19.

He’ll look to continue his heart-warming story in Week 3 against the Memphis Showboats on Saturday, April 13.