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Former Michigan defensive end Taco Charlton says he's one of the top players in the upcoming NFL Draft.

(Melanie Maxwell | MLive.com)

ANN ARBOR -- Taco Charlton believes he's one of the most talented players in the 2017 NFL Draft.

Just ask him.

"I think I'm definitely a top 15 guy," Charlton says. "I feel like I'm only going to get better the more football I play.

"I think I'm one of the better players out here in the draft. I have high expectations for myself."

Charlton, a 6-foot-6, 277-pound former Michigan defensive end, is projected as a first-round selection on a number of draft boards at this point.

He went through workouts again Friday during Michigan's pro day in Ann Arbor and was able to improve his 40 time. He ran a 4.92 at the NFL Combine last month and said he shaved that down near the 4.8-flat time Friday.

Charlton says he met with the Saints, the Ravens, the Cardinals and the Titans on Thursday. He has upcoming meetings scheduled with the Cowboys, the Saints (again), the Bucs, the Dolphins and the Redskins.

Also, he'll be in Detroit for the Lions' upcoming local pro day. He said he met with Lions privately during the combine and plans to have more meetings and conversations with team personnel coming up.

"They're' only like 30 minutes away, so I don't consider that much of a trip," Charlton said. "That's been good. I watch Ziggy (Ansah) a lot, I've studied film on him and he's a relentless pass rusher. I'm always impressed with everything he does.

"I've gotten good feedback (from the Lions), I'd love a place like that to play in. ... I feel like God will put me in the best position to succeed in the future, I trust in him and everything else will pay off."

Charlton says, at this point, his biggest pitch to teams is his final 10-game push at Michigan last season -- when he racked up 10 sacks in 10 games. And, he did it with a high ankle sprain injury that bothered him all the way through the Orange Bowl.

He's played multiple positions at Michigan along the defensive line. He believes his best football -- healthy football -- is absolutely ahead of him and he hopes NFL teams feel the same way.

"I've never actually gotten a chance to stay at one position and really master it, I've been at four spots all four years," he says. "I feel like that's something I can offer to a team. Once I go somewhere, and they say 'we're going to stick you here and let you master it' I think I'll (thrive in that situation)."

Charlton's length, burst and natural pass rush ability has scouts' attention. And, frankly, he makes a fair point with regard to his constant movement at Michigan.

He played inside some as a third-down rushing tackle during the first two years of his career with Brady Hoke as the team's head coach. He's also played both weak-side and strong-side defensive end -- both with Hoke and Jim Harbaugh.

Current Michigan defensive coordinator Don Brown moved him exclusively to the weak side and told him to get after the quarterback.

And, per Charlton, the film does not lie.

"You can watch the film and see I can rush the edge with speed," Charlton says. "I can definitely provide some pass rush and, today, with my (40 time) I feel like I shut up some critics who said I was slow."