The Chicago Bears knew they couldn’t exit the main part of the off-season without adding some pass rush help. It took longer than expected, but they finally pounced at the end of the NFL draft when they traded back into the 5th round with Buffalo for Kansas standout Austin Booker. Scouts loved his mix of size, length, and quickness. He had eight sacks and 12 tackles for a loss in 2023. There was one problem. He’d only started one season. That may have been why he fell in the draft despite projections he’d go in the 3rd round. Chicago wasn’t complaining. They saw an excellent template to work with.
His debut in the Hall of Fame game reinforced that belief. Booker was one of the few who consistently affected the pocket most of the night, beating tackles in a variety of ways. He should’ve been credited with a half-sack that led to a fumble. Regardless, the young man was active constantly.
Everybody knew about his length and quickness. What probably surprised many of the Texans’ blockers was how strong he was. He powered through guys on multiple occasions. Keep in mind he is listed at only 240 lbs. He hasn’t even bulked up to true defensive end size yet. That should terrify people who can project the future. If he’s tossing 300-lbs guys out of his way right now, there is no telling what he’ll become after adding 10-15 lbs of muscle to his frame. No wonder Bears coaches are so excited about him. Austin Booker is not your typical 5th round pick. He’s a Pokemon that is one or two good battles away from evolving into a straight monster. This was an exciting first step in his journey and certainly built his confidence moving forward.
