Chicago Bears select Zacch Pickens in third round of 2023 NFL Draft

The Chicago Bears have selected Zacch Pickens with the No. 64 overall pick in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft. The former South Carolina standout will now take his talents to the NFL and look to earn a role on the defensive front.

Pickens finished the 2022 college season with 42 tackles, 2.5 sacks and three pass deflections. On his college career, which included 43 games, the lineman racked up 131 tackles and 7.5 sacks.

He was among the most coveted players in the class of 2019 after starring at T L Hanna (SC). Pickens ranked as a five-star recruit at No. 17 overall and No. 3 among defensive linemen, according to the On3 Industry Rankings, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

What NFL Draft analysts are saying about Zacch Pickens

NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein broke down what Zacch Pickens can bring to the NFL in his recent scout of the defensive lineman’s draft profile. The analyst compared the South Carolina product to Maurice Hurst, who is currently with the Cleveland Browns after being drafted in the 5th round of the 2018 draft.

Zierlein graded him as a second or third round pick in the draft class and provided his reasons for why in a report.

“Athletic interior defender with experience and length as a gap-control tackle but the quickness and play traits that might be better-suited to attacking upfield,” wrote Zierlein. “Pickens has a disruptive first step that creates advantages for him as both a run defender and pass rusher. He plays with harmonious hands and feet to elude blockers or play off them, but he’s likely to get moved around by NFL drive blockers. Pickens has the ability to play both tackle spots in a one-gapping front and has rotational value with the potential to see starter’s reps.”

Zierlein also broke down what Pickens’ greatest strengths and weaknesses are at this point.

Pickens’ strengths include: “Above average arm length with quick hands, early recognition and response to the blocking scheme, able to separate and maintain balance through contact, one-gap athleticism and foot quickness, works suddenly off blocks to tackle his gaps, winning first-step quickness in his rush, ties long-arm move with counter steps to open pathways to the pocket, keeps feet and hands active throughout the rush charge.”

Pickens’ weaknesses include: “Average frame, below average anchor as two-gapper, gives initial ground to quality drive blockers, unlikely to crank up an NFL-caliber bull rush, elevated pad level gets his rush redirected.”