The phrase one man's trash is another man's treasure can be used when discussing the flurry of movement that happens every year at the league's mandatory deadline to trim training camp rosters down to 53 players.
After spending a third-round pick on him in the 2023 draft, Chicago Bears GM Ryan Poles and first-year head coach Ben Johnson have concluded that the old regime's selection no longer has a place in the Windy City. That led to former South Carolina Gamecocks defensive tackle Zacch Pickens being released earlier this week.
Fast forward to Thursday, and the 25-year-old has found a new home in the AFC with one of the top contenders to win the Super Bowl. According to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com, Pickens has agreed to sign with the Kansas City Chiefs. However, he will have to earn anything he gets in Kansas City, as the defender will have to work his way up from the practice squad.
Free agent DT Zacch Pickens is signing with the #Chiefs practice squad, per source.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) August 28, 2025
Chicago’s former third-round pick saw Kansas City, which carries four defensive tackles on the 53, as a place where he can make an impact.
Bears Draft Bust Zacch Pickens Somehow Lands with Chiefs After Cuts
Pickens only lasted 26 games in Chicago before being released. It is hard to blame the Bears for electing to move on from the former SEC standout, either. With 39 total tackles and 1.5 quarterback sacks to his name, there was no justification for continuing to pay him to be on the roster.
With veteran DT Grady Jarrett brought in during the offseason to join recent draft picks Gervon Dexter Sr. and Shemar Turner, the writing was on the wall that Pickens would need to enjoy a standout showing during the preseason to hold onto his spot with the Bears. Unfortunately, his five total tackles and one QB sack were not enough to save his job.
Kansas City has four defensive tackles on the roster entering Week 1, and Chiefs GM Brett Veach elaborated on what was appealing about Pickens after the team came to terms with him on a deal. There is excitement in Kansas City for what Pickens may prove to be capable of, but time will not be on the side of the former Bears draft bust.
“That’s just a position that we’re kind of hyper-focused on and trying to get that competition better and get more consistency,” Veach said, via Matt Derrick of ChiefsDigest.com.
We'll find out just how things go for Pickens in Kansas City soon enough. It seems safe to say that he won't be terribly missed by Bears fans, though.