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Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid just saw a roster cut get snatched up by the New York Giants.

The Kansas City Chiefs waived three players on May 4, following the news that three of their rookie tryouts would be joining the 91-man roster during the latter stages of NFL free agency.

Among those roster cuts was veteran defensive tackle Zacch Pickens, and the Chiefs departure was immediately snatched up off waivers by the New York Giants. The NFC East team announced the news on May 5, and it was also on the daily NFL transaction log.

Per A-to-Z Sports Kansas City reporter Charles Goldman, fellow roster cuts “QB Jake Haener and DE Ethan Hurkett cleared waivers after being let go by the Chiefs.”

However, with the Giants claiming Pickens, it officially marks “his third stop since being selected in Round 3 of the 2023 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears.”

Zacch Pickens’ Cut News Comes as No Surprise After a Minimal Impact With the Chiefs

Kansas City took a flyer on Pickens just before the start of the 2025 season. The former third-round talent failed to make the Bears’ 53-man roster that August, and the Chiefs picked him up off waivers, similar to the Giants now.

Pickens then spent the majority of the year on the practice squad, although he was elevated for 3 outings.

According to ESPN, Pickens was credited with 5 total tackles in KC. Outside of that, he had a very minimal impact and clearly failed to impress head coach Andy Reid and his staff.

The Chiefs have made moves to upgrade the interior of their defensive line this offseason, signing Khyiris Tonga and spending a first-round pick on Peter Woods. They’ll also get 2025 second-rounder Omarr Norman-Lott back from injury, improving their depth behind Chris Jones.

With the combination of those new additions and returning ones, Pickens seems to have become expendable. The Chiefs cut him for a reason, and they are unlikely to lose sleep over this waiver claim.

Throughout his NFL career, Pickens has recorded just 1.5 sacks and 3.5 run stuffs, per ESPN. The disappointing draft pick has also been credited with 1 forced fumble, 1 pass defense, and 44 total tackles.

Chiefs Betting Big on Peter Woods & Omarr Norman-Lott After Latest NFL News

The veteran cut confirms a theory that most already expected: the Chiefs are betting big on rookie Peter Woods and second-year prospect Omarr Norman-Lott.

Although the Tonga addition does help shore up the D-tackle room, either Woods or Norman-Lott will be starting if there’s one injury in front of them. And that’s the likely four-man rotation this season.

Sure, the Chiefs could always re-sign veteran Mike Pennel — a favorite of Reid and Jones — later on. But they have yet to make the locker room favorite an offer in NFL free agency.

That, plus the Pickens cut, speaks to their confidence in Woods and Norman-Lott.

Given the strengths and weaknesses of each player, expect Tonga to start next to Jones and get the bulk of the early down snaps. Especially toward the beginning of the season.

Then, Woods and Norman-Lott will likely rotate in as impact pass rushers. If either breaks out, they could eventually steal some snaps from Tonga with the first-team defense, but it’s more likely KC eases in their two top-tier defensive tackle prospects, presenting them with favorable opportunities early on.

Either way, there’s no room for Pickens in this group, making his departure no concern at all.