49ers sign former 1st-round draft bust to replace Nick Bosa
The 49ers don't seem to mind signing former first-round NFL Draft busts to low-risk deals.
By Peter Panacy
With Nick Bosa holding out from 49ers training camp, the 49ers elected to onboard a former first-round draft pick whose career never took off.
All-Pro edge Nick Bosa is one of those players who doesn't exactly need training camp.
Yes, Bosa holding out from the San Francisco 49ers' ramp-up period ahead of the 2023 regular season isn't ideal, and he won't report to the team until he receives what's going to be a massive contract extension that'll likely make him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history.
However, in Bosa's absence, there are players who benefit.
It also means that there's a void on the depth chart where Bosa would normally be. While other names like Drake Jackson, Kerry Hyder, Clelin Ferrell and Austin Bryant are likely to see more practice reps in camp because of this, the units are also going to be short one lineman for drills.
The Niners took care of that on Tuesday by inking a former first-round NFL Draft pick who never turned into the prolific player many thought he'd be.
49ers sign Taco Charlton, a 2017 first-round NFL Draft pick of the Cowboys
San Francisco has a bit of a history signing draft busts to low-risk, potentially high-reward deals. Ferrell is easily the most recent, having been let go by the Las Vegas Raiders after a disappointing four-year stint following his own drafting at No. 4 overall back in 2019.
Two years earlier, the Dallas Cowboys used the 28th overall pick on defensive end Taco Charlton. Injuries and underperformance relegated his stint there to just two years, and Charlton subsequently became a journeyman pass-rusher who spent time with the Miami Dolphins, Kansas City Chiefs, Pittsburgh Steelers, New Orleans Saints, Chicago Bears and Jacksonville Jaguars.
Now, the 49ers, who announced a one-year deal with Charlton on Tuesday. To make room on the 90-man roster, they waived safety Avery Young.
Over his six-year career, Charlton has 11.5 sacks, 22 quarterback hits and 95 tackles over 60 games played, 13 of them starts.
It's safe to say Charlton's career didn't meet expectations, but the Niners are likely just hoping he can round out the depth chart, at worst, between now and the regular season.
At best, Charlton can wind up being San Francisco's next reclamation success story.
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