Chicago Bears: Grading all picks in 2023 NFL Draft

Round 3, #64; Zacch Pickens, DT, South Carolina

With the 64th pick, Poles returned to the trenches. He selected another defensive tackle with Zacch Pickens out of South Carolina.

Poles felt that the Chicago Bears needed to be tougher and meaner in the middle. Many opponents just gashed the defense running up the middle. Poles wants that to stop. He wants big bodies in the middle to make life easier for the pass rushers. If the guys in the middle require attention then that means the pass rushers will see a lot of one-on-ones and should have a better chance to make plays.

Pickens had a very good week of practice at the Senior Bowl. His coach for the game was Chicago Bears offensive coordinator Luke Getsy. Getsy got to see how good Pickens was and gave Poles a good report. Another tough, big (6-foot-4, 295 pounds), and athletic man in the middle.

With the free agent signings and the draft picks, the Chicago Bears will throw a good rotation of tough guys in the middle to wear down opponents. Grade: A-