It's understandable why another NFL team would take a flyer on Zacch Pickens. The upside sell is easy given his draft pedigree and relative youth. But expectations should be lower than ever after gauging his inability to gain any real traction in a perfect situation with the Kansas City Chiefs.
The New York Giants claimed Pickens on waivers on Tuesday, giving him another attempt to make it work in the NFL.
Earlier this week, the Chiefs announced the signings of three rookies who were participating in their minicamp following the 2026 NFL Draft. To make room for the trio of imports, the Chiefs also released three players from the 90-man offseason roster, including Pickens after nearly a year of trying to make something work.
It makes sense why the Giants would take a chance on Zacch Pickens.
Pickens joined the Chiefs last August after being waived by the Chicago Bears shortly before active rosters were due. Kansas City placed Pickens on the practice squad and stashed him there for nearly the entire season along with former Detroit Lions lineman Brodric Martin. As former day-two defensive tackles, the Chiefs were clearly attempting to look at younger low-risk plays to see if they could unlock something in a new environment.
Martin was claimed by the Pittsburgh Steelers after a couple of months, but Pickens remained with the Chiefs for the entire season. In December, Pickens earned a promotion to the active roster and earned 59 total snaps across 3 late-season appearances in a frustrating year for a team learning how to handle a total collapse from contender status.
Unfortunately for Pickens (and the Chiefs), he proved unable to take advantage of what should have been a prime opportunity in K.C. The Chiefs had every reason to play their youngsters in a 6-11 campaign in which they were clearly sitting outside of postseason contention. In addition, the Chiefs have needed an infusion of young help inside for the last few years. Yet even with the injury to Omarr Norman-Lott clearing a path for Pickens, or someone like him, Pickens still watched vets like Mike Pennel, Jerry Tillery, and Derrick Nnadi earn considerable reps in front of him.
Pickens stuck around for another offseason, but following the Chiefs' free-agent activity and draft efforts, the writing was on the wall. Norman-Lott will return healthy with high expectations awaiting his second season. Clemson's Peter Woods was the team's first-round investment at No. 29 overall. Khyiris Tonga was a bigger interior signing away from the New England Patriots. The Chiefs haven't looked this good in the trenches in quite some time, so there was simply no room for a player who couldn't make it work with next to no competition.
From the Giants' perspective, the signing of Pickens makes sense. There's zero risk in the offseason to take a long look at a 26-year-old interior lineman who was once the third-round selection of the Chicago Bears. The former South Carolina product entered the NFL as a versatile, athletic option up front but he's never been able to find his groove, even with the team making such a big investment.
Add us as a preferred source on Google