The Chicago Bears doubled down on the defensive line with the selection of South Carolina defensive tackle Zacch Pickens in the third round of the 2023 NFL draft.
The Bears had the worst defensive line in the NFL last season, and general manager Ryan Poles committed two Day 2 selections to shore up that weakness. Pickens, along with second-round defensive tackle Gervon Dexter, will serve as key rotational pieces alongside Justin Jones and Andrew Billings.
Pickens has a nice combination of explosiveness and power. He can play both 3-technique and 1-technique, bringing versatility to the interior. Pickens has a disruptive first step that helps him both against the run and as a pass rusher.
Here’s a collection of all of the grades for Pickens from various media outlets, where experts believe it’s a solid addition.