The Chicago Bears added some massive pieces on both their offensive and defensive lines this offseason. While much of the national attention has gone to the additions of Joe Thuney, Drew Dalman and Jonah Jackson on the offensive line, the defensive line can't be overlooked. Defensively, Chicago added veteran Grady Jarrett and rookie Shamar Turner to their defensive tackle room.
Those were some much-needed additions after the struggles the group faced when Andrew Billings went down in 2024. That said, adding Jarrett and Turner will force more competition within the room.
While that's a good thing, it could also spell the end to a former third-round pick's time in Chicago. Defensive tackle Zacch Pickens enters training camp on the outside looking in for a roster spot in 2025.
Zacch Pickens is on Borrowed Time in Chicago
Pickens' tenure with the Bears has not turned out how Bears fans hoped it would. In two seasons, the 25-year-old has recorded 29 tackles, 1.5 sacks, two quarterback hits, 14 QB hurries, and 18 QB pressures in 28 games, according to PFF. Furthermore, in 2023, he finished with a 54.9 overall grade (122nd/215 DL) and in 2024, he finished with a 45.5 overall grade (172nd/219 DL), according to PFF.
Though third-round picks can be looked at as developmental projects, they are still expected to contribute at some point. In Chicago's case, Pickens had to step into the rotation right away, which he clearly wasn't ready for.
Moreover, in 2024, the 25-year-old landed on the inactive list with injury or as a healthy scratch eight times, resulting in him suiting up for just nine games. In spite of that, with a new coaching staff comes a new chance to impress. Unfortunately, it seems he's failed to take advantage of that so far.
Despite it being difficult to truly evaluate defensive line play during OTAs and minicamp, Ben Johnson did heap praise on fourth-year defensive end Dominique Robinson. Robinson, who has also been underwhelming, catching the new coach's eye is noteworthy when comparing him to Pickens.
In addition to Billings, Turner, and Jarrett, Pickens is also behind Gervon Dexer, who was drafted the same year as he was. As a result, he has a huge hill to climb during training camp if he wishes to stay in Chicago, which includes beating out Jonathan Ford and Chris Williams, who both looked good at points last season.