The upcoming NFL season will be a huge one for Chicago Bears defensive tackle Zacch Pickens.
Now entering Year 2, the 24-year-old Pickens appeared in all 17 games for the Bears as a rookie last year. He didn’t start, playing a rotational role in the middle. Considering Pickens played just 25% of Chicago’s defensive snaps in 2024, it’s a bit of a surprise that NFL.com’s Gregg Rosenthal has the young DT pegged to start over incumbent starter Andrew Billings in his latest 53-man roster projection.
“The defensive line is the biggest worry,” Rosenthal wrote on May 21. “The Bears need their 2023 draft picks (second-rounder Gervon Dexter Sr. and third-rounder Zacch Pickens) to step up at defensive tackle.”
Rosenthal has Dexter starting opposite Pickens, with no mention of the veteran Billings.
Zacch Pickens Starting at DT Over Andrew Billings Would Be Huge Surprise
Billings, 29, started all 17 games for the Bears last year on the left side. He played so well general manager Ryan Poles signed him to a two-year, $8.5 million contract extension halfway through the 2023 regular season.
Over $5 million of that is guaranteed, according to Over the Cap. That’s one reason it would be surprising to see the Bears choose Pickens over Billings. Experience is another.
