Ryan Pickett Ryan Lamonte Pickett Sr . ( born October 8 , 1979 ) is a National Football League Defensive End for the Green Bay Packers . 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 , adding All - State honors at Zephyrhills High . Named one of the top 25 players in the country by the National Recruiting Advisor . He recorded 119 tackles with seven sacks as a senior . College career . Pickett played college football at Ohio State 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 fumble s in 1999 . After Pickett ' s junior season he decided to skip his senior season and apply for the NFL draft . Professional career . St . Louis Rams . 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 an unrestricted free agent . Green Bay Packers . 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 , and signed him to a 3 - year deal on March 12 , 2010 . Pickett mainly 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 . From time to time , he plays 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 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 hand off 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 title in fourteen years . Personal life . Ryan ' s wife Jennifer gave birth to a baby boy Ryan Lamonte Pickett , Jr . on August 10 , 2007 . He is the third installment into the Pickett family . He also has two sisters , Jill and Abigail .