Bears claim former first-round pick Taco Charlton

The Bears claimed defensive end Taco Charlton, a former first-round pick, off waivers from the Saints practice squad Wednesday.

Charlton played for Bears head coach Matt Eberflus, who was then a linebackers coach, after the Cowboys drafted him No. 28 overall out of Michigan in 2017. In 2020, he played for the Chiefs, who also employed Bears general manager Ryan Poles.

He adds depth to a defensive line that has struggled to rush the passer this season. He has 11 1⁄2 sacks and four forced fumbles in five seasons while playing for the Cowboys, Chiefs, Dolphins and Steelers.

Eberflus said that he’ll be a “rotational player inside,” opening the door for him to rush from the defensive tackle spots on obvious passing downs.

Charlton said learning the defense “shouldn’t really take me very long” because of his familiarity with the old Cowboys scheme.

“The small details I’ll have to learn through walk-throughs and stuff like that,” he said. “But I should be able to pick it up very fast.”