There's less of a buzz around the Windy City now that the Chicago Bears have put organized team activities (OTAs) and their mandatory minicamp behind them. Head coach Ben Johnson & Co. are officially focused on training camp going forward, and the action is set to resume at Halas Hall on July 19 for rookies before the veterans join the mix three days later.
Even though training camp is right around the corner, not everyone on the Bears' 90-man roster is guaranteed to last that long. Underwhelming OTA and minicamp performances have put a handful of Chicago players on thin ice, including a returning veteran at risk of being cut before the action even resumes.
Bears DT Zacch Pickens Could Be Cut Before Training Camp
Bears fans were hoping to see elevated performances from several players who disappointed last year, including Zacch Pickens. The 25-year-old defensive tackle failed to make much noise in Year 2 of his NFL career, tallying only eight solo tackles and a sack in nine games (3 starts), all while recording an abysmal 45.5 Pro Football Focus defense grade.
Instead of using OTAs and minicamp as tools to get back on track, Pickens was largely invisible throughout the early offseason workouts. He didn't make his first spring appearance until June 10, and struggled to put his name back into fans' minds after that, putting him in the mix to be one of the Bears' next roster cuts.
If Chicago's front office and coaching staff aren't confident in a turnaround, a cut is the likeliest next step. Although the former South Carolina Gamecock still has two years remaining on his rookie contract, a potential cut would net the Bears over $1.2 million in salary cap savings, per Spotrac. The freed-up cash can then be used on a player who's a better fit for Johnson's plans.
While it's never fun giving up on a former second-round pick after a few seasons, Pickens has hardly given the Bears a reason to believe in any potential he may have. Cutting ties to give both sides a fresh start might be the next step if OTAs and minicamp were enough for Johnson & Co. to come to an early conclusion.