Ryan Pickett

For the American filmmaker, see Ryan Pickett (filmmaker).

Ryan Pickett

Picket during his tenure with the Green Bay Packers
No. -- Free agent
Position:	Nose tackle
Personal information
Date of birth:	(1979-10-08) October 8, 1979
Place of birth:	Zephyrhills, Florida
Height:
Weight:
Career information
High school:	Zephyrhills (FL)
College:	Ohio State
NFL draft:	2001 / Round: 1 / Pick: 29
Career history
St. Louis Rams (2001–2005) Green Bay Packers (2006–2013) Houston Texans (2014)
Roster status:	Active
Career highlights and awards
Super Bowl champion (XLV) 2× NFC champion (2001, 2010) St. Louis Rams 10th Anniversary Team USA Today High School All-American (1997)
Career NFL statistics as of Week 17, 2014
Tackles: 577 Sacks: 9.5 Forced Fumbles: 1 Player stats at NFL.com

Ryan Lamonte Pickett Sr. (born October 8, 1979) is an American professional football nose tackle who is currently a free agent. He attended Ohio State University and was selected with the 29th pick of the first round in the 2001 NFL Draft by the St. Louis Rams. He graduated from Zephyrhills High School in Zephyrhills, Florida.

High school career

Pickett was a consensus All-American selection, named one of the top 25 players in the country by the National Recruiting Advisor and earned All-State honors at Zephyrhills High. He recorded 119 tackles with seven sacks as a senior.

Pickett was also a force for the Zephyrhills basketball team, averaging 10 points and 10 rebounds per game. He also was the school's first baseman on the baseball team until his senior season.

College career

Pickett played college football at Ohio State University from 1998 to 2000. He was a three-year starter and played both defensive tackle positions. Pickett played in every game as a true freshman and started the final nine games at right defensive tackle. He totaled 22 stops (17 solo), two sacks, and five tackles for loss. As a sophomore, Ryan started the whole season at right defensive tackle. He also was named All-Big Ten honorable mention with career-highs of 48 tackles (34 solo) and three sacks. In Pickett's junior season, he switched sides and played left defensive tackle. He totaled 39 tackles (21 solo), three sacks and two forced fumbles in 1999. After Pickett's junior season he chose to forgo his senior season and enter the NFL Draft.

Professional career

Measurables

Pre-draft measurables

Ht	Wt	40-yd dash	10-yd split	20-yd split	20-ss	3-cone	Vert	Broad	BP
6 ft 2⅛ in	309 lb	4.98 s			4.48 s		30 in
All values from Ohio State Pro Day, except for height and weight, which were measured at the NFL Combine

St. Louis Rams (2001-2005)

Pickett was selected with the 29th pick of the first round in the 2001 NFL Draft by the St. Louis Rams. 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 a highly touted unrestricted free agent.

Green Bay Packers (2006-2013)

Ryan Pickett (right) with B. J. Raji and A. J. Hawk.

On March 17, 2006, the Green Bay Packers 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 regular season games 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 new 3-4 defense.

On February 25, 2010, the Packers applied their Franchise Tag on Pickett, but eventually signed him to a 4-year, $28 million deal on March 12, 2010. Pickett primarily played the defensive end position in the Packers' 3-4 base defense alongside Pro Bowler B.J. Raji, who solidified the nose tackle position. From time to time, Pickett shifts to nose tackle, more often when Raji is not on the field.

Pickett played a major role on the 4-3 defensive line during the Packers' postseason. He trailed only Charles Woodson as the longest-tenured NFL player on the Packers' defense. He had 2 tackles in Super Bowl XLV but, more importantly, was instrumental in one of the game's biggest plays. On the first play of the fourth quarter, the Pittsburgh Steelers were trailing the Packers 21-17, but had a second-and-two at the Packers' 33-yard-line. Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall took a handoff and was immediately met in the backfield by Pickett. Pickett had Mendelhall wrapped up, allowing Clay Matthews to force a fumble by sandwiching Mendenhall between himself and Pickett. Packers' linebacker Desmond Bishop 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 championship title in fourteen years.

Houston Texans (2014)

In response of Louis Nix III going on injured reserve due to knee injuries, Pickett was signed by the Houston Texans on September 24, 2014.

Personal life

Pickett's primary home is in San Diego, California, and he spends most of his time there when he's not in Green Bay or traveling with the team. He and his wife, Jennifer, are the parents to six children, the youngest of whom is five-years-old.

Pickett is a Christian.

In 2012, he formed The Ryan Pickett Foundation, which addresses issues in foster care by providing emotional and monetary relief to children who were placed within the foster care system. Proceeds are split equally between The American Foundation of Counseling Services of Green Bay and Casa de Amparo in San Diego.

Through his foundation, Pickett hosted his first Celebrity Golf Classic in 2013 at the Barona Creek Golf Course in Lakeside, California, just outside San Diego. His celebrity guests included Aaron Rodgers, Clay Matthews, Marshall Faulk and Sterling Sharpe among others.

External links

• Green Bay Packers bio

Sporting positions
Preceded by Gilbert Brown	Green Bay Packers Starting Nose Tackle 2009	Succeeded by B. J. Raji