ZP #96

Zacch Pickens

Defensive Tackle · South Carolina

Once a five-star recruit and third-round pick, Pickens is now fighting for a roster spot with his third team in four NFL seasons.

Zacch Pickens is a defensive tackle for the New York Giants whose NFL career has not yet matched the hype that surrounded him as a top-ranked recruit out of South Carolina. He arrives in New York looking to reestablish himself after stops with two other franchises.

★ Five-star recruit and top-ranked defensive line prospect in the 2019 class

★ Team captain at South Carolina in 2022

★ Third-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft

Path to the league

Pickens was a five-star recruit at T.L. Hanna High School in Anderson, South Carolina, ranked as the nation's top defensive line prospect and eighth-best overall recruit in the 2019 class. He spent four years at South Carolina, becoming a full-time starter in 2021 and a team captain in 2022, finishing with 131 tackles, 12 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks. The Chicago Bears drafted him in the third round, 64th overall, in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Career highlights

Pickens spent two seasons plus an offseason with the Bears after being drafted in the third round, working as a rotational interior lineman. His college resume, built on four years as a starter and captain for South Carolina, remains the high point of his football career to date.

2025 season recap

Pickens was waived by the Bears in final roster cuts on August 26, 2025, and later signed with the Kansas City Chiefs in December. He posted a 29.7 overall PFF defensive grade with the Chiefs, recording four solo tackles, one quarterback hurry and no sacks in limited action during the season.