When the Chicago Bears drafted Zacch Pickens, there was a question about his potential star power, but most fans and analysts saw a player with the athletic potential and experience to be a solid backup if not a rotational starter in the NFL.
However, as his second season comes to a close, it is starting to become more apparent that he is just another miss for General Manager Ryan Poles.
The Bears elected to make Pickens inactive on Thursday for their game against the Seattle Seahawks. This is significant because the team is weak along its defensive line, and they were relying on Pickens to take a step forward. Having him sit out behind Chris Williams, Byron Cowart, and Jonathan Ford is a sign that the Bears simply do not trust him to play, even on a poor defensive line.
Is Zacch Pickens officially a bust for the Chicago Bears?
Those three combined for zero snaps last year. So, the Bears' former third-round pick was essentially benched behind three practice squad players.
Pickens had moments as a rookie but they were few and far between. Gervon Dexter was seen as the higher upside project while Pickens was viewed as someone who should be able to play day one. However, by the end of year one it was Dexter working over Pickens and already showing more promise. If anything, Pickens has not progressed, but most would say that he regressed this year.
Pickens played 264 snaps as a rookie and currently has 228. Considering he sat out in Week 17, and the Bears had no significant injuries, he will likely sit out in Week 18 as well. The team got a good look at him over the last two seasons and they simply were not impressed.
It is hard to call a player a complete bust and give up after two seasons, but there has been nothing to point to as a sign of optimism regarding Pickens.