Green Bay Packers: 15 best free agent acquisitions of all-time

Best free agent acquisitions in Green Bay Packers history: 12. Ryan Pickett

Ryan Pickett was an outstanding defensive tackle for the Ohio State Buckeyes at the turn of the century. He was All-Big Ten and ended up being a late first-round pick by the then-St. Louis Rams at the peak of their “Greatest Show on Turf” powers in 2001.

Pickett played in Super Bowl XXXVI against the New England Patriots as a rookie, unfortunately culminating in a shocking upset loss for the Rams. After five years playing for St. Louis, Pickett became one of the most coveted unrestricted free agents of the 2006 class.

Green Bay was able to sign him to a four-year, $14 million deal in 2006 NFL free agency. Pickett would go on to play the next eight seasons at Lambeau Field for The Pack. While he never was a Pro Bowl player in his 14-year NFL career split between three organizations, Pickett shined all along Dom Capers’ defensive line from 2009 to 2013.

In the 3-4 base, Pickett would sometimes kick out to defensive end, which allowed a promising young big guy from Boston College in B.J. Raji to take flight at nose tackle. Pickett was stout against the run and effective in taking up multiple blockers to allow pass rushers like Clay Matthews III to get after the quarterback.

In 2010, Pickett was slapped with the franchise tag initially by the Packers after having completed his four-year deal with Green Bay. They would reach an agreement a few months later, as both parties would come to terms on a new four-year, $28 million deal. Having a new deal in place almost certainly gave Pickett the ability to play clearheaded that fall.

Or, at least it seems like it. Green Bay would win the Super Bowl over the Pittsburgh Steelers that season in Super Bowl XLV in Arlington. The Packers would remain a perennial NFC playoff team throughout the rest of Pickett’s tenure with the team. He ended up spending his last NFL season as a member of the 2014 Houston Texans before retiring.

In eight years with the Packers, Pickett played in 119 games, making 113 starts. He had 319 combined tackles, 18 passes defended, 11 quarterback hits and 3.5 quarterback sacks. The Packers qualified for the NFC playoffs six of the eight years Pickett was in Green Bay. 2006 and 2008 were the two years the Packers went home in January during that eight-year span.

Overall, Pickett was a space eater more than anything. Adept at stuffing the run, but rarely a threat to get after the quarterback. Yes, he was very well compensated for his services in Green Bay, but the Packers probably don’t win Super Bowl XLV without him. Along with defensive back Charles Woodson, they were the two seasoned veterans of that championship Packers defense in 2010.