Ryan Pickett
Encyclopedia
St. Louis Rams
Pickett was selected with the 29th pick of the first round in the 2001 NFL Draft2001 NFL Draft
The 2001 NFL Draft took place on April 21–22, 2001 at the theater at Madison Square Garden, in New York City. This was the 66th National Football League draft in league history. The draft was broadcast on ESPN both days and eventually moved to ESPN2. No teams elected to claim any players in the...
by the St. Louis Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
. On July 28, 2001, Pickett signed a five-year, $5.995 million contract with the Rams. Pickett's contract includes a $2.615 million signing bonuses. His base salaries were $504,000 in 2001, $530,000 in 2002, $656,000 in 2003, $782,000 in 2004 and $908,000 in 2005.
In his rookie season with the Rams, Pickett took a backup role on the defensive front along with playing some special teams.In 2002, Pickett had a breakout year starting 14 games at left defensive tackle and finishing the season second on the team in tackles with 67 (45 solo). In 2003 and 2004 he maintained his above average play at the defensive tackle and nose tackle positions for the St. Louis Rams and was a vital part of their defense both in the regular season and in playoff contests.
In 2005, Pickett had his highest statistical season to date. He started all 16 of the Rams games and racked up a career high 65 tackles (47 solo), which was the highest total for any defensive lineman in the NFL that season. After the 2005 season Pickett became an unrestricted free agent.
Green Bay Packers
On March 17, 2006, the Green Bay PackersGreen Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
signed Pickett to a four-year, $14-million free-agent contract. In his first season with the Packers, Pickett started in all 16 of the Packers and collected 92 tackles (45 solo) one fumble recovery and a career-best seven passes defensed. In 2007 Pickett played in 14 games (14 starts) and totaled 39 tackles and recorded his first sack as a Packer. In 2008 he had 48 tackles, started all 16 games, and registered 1.5 sacks and knocked away three passes. In 2009 Pickett played the Nose Tackle position in defensive Coordinator Dom Capers
Dom Capers
Ernest Dominic "Dom" Capers is an American football coach, the current defensive coordinator of the Green Bay Packers, and the only man to serve two different National Football League expansion teams as their inaugural head coach....
new 3-4 defense.
On February 25, 2010, the Packers applied their Franchise Tag
Franchise Tag
In the National Football League, the franchise tag is a designation a team may apply to a player scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent. The tag binds the player to the team for one year if certain conditions are met. Each team has access each year to only one franchise tag and one...
on Pickett, and signed him to a 3-year deal on March 12, 2010. Pickett now plays the defensive end position in the Packers' 3-4 defense with second-year player B.J. Raji moving to the nose tackle position.
Pickett helped anchor the defensive line during the Packer's Super Bowl run in 2010-11. He only trailed Charles Woodson
Charles Woodson
Charles C. Woodson is an American football cornerback for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League . He played college football at the University of Michigan for the Michigan Wolverines. In 1997, Woodson led the Wolverines to a national championship...
as the longest tenured NFL player on the Packers' defense. He had 2 tackles in Super Bowl XLV
Super Bowl XLV
Super Bowl XLV was an American football game between the American Football Conference champion Pittsburgh Steelers and the National Football Conference champion Green Bay Packers to decide the National Football League champion for the 2010 season. The game was held at Cowboys Stadium in...
but, more importantly, was instrumental in one of the game's biggest plays. On the first play of the fourth quarter, the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
were trailing the Packers 21-17, but had a second-and-two at the Packers' 33-yard-line. Steelers' running back Rashard Mendenhall
Rashard Mendenhall
Rashard Jamal Mendenhall is an American football running back for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Steelers 23rd overall in the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at Illinois....
took a hand off and was immediately met in the backfield by Pickett. Pickett had Mendelhall wrapped up, allowing Clay Matthews
Clay Matthews III
William Clay Matthews III is an American football linebacker for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Packers 26th overall in the 2009 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Southern California.-Early years:Matthews was born in the Los...
to force a fumble by sandwiching Mendenhall between himself and Pickett. Packers' linebacker Desmond Bishop
Desmond Bishop
Desmond Lamont Bishop is an American football linebacker for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Packers in the sixth round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He played college football at California....
recovered the fumble and the Packers' offense would march down the field to extend their lead to 28-17. The Packers would go onto a 31-25 victory, bringing Green Bay their first title in fourteen years.