Chicago Bears fans were upset. Even before the off-season began, they recognized that the team had a concern void at the edge rusher position opposite Montez Sweat. Yannick Ngakoue was a free agent. Dominique Robinson hadn’t developed as hoped. DeMarcus Walker wasn’t the explosive presence necessary for the role. It was hoped GM Ryan Poles would invest in that position at some point during the off-season. However, nothing materialized. They made only minor moves in free agency, which meant only the draft was left. Yet people lost hope after Tory Taylor, a punter, became their final pick of the draft. That is until the Bears jumped back into the action with an unexpected trade, snagging a 5th rounder from Buffalo to spend on Kansas edge rusher Austin Booker.
It was a rare aggressive move for Poles, who tends to play it conservative during the draft. He had only traded up once in the previous two years. That was when they jumped up the board for Tyrique Stevenson in 2023. Given how that worked out, it must’ve meant the Bears really liked Booker. It isn’t hard to see why. Most experts gave him a 3rd round grade. Snagging him in the 5th was terrific value. Bears area scout Joe Syty revealed to Nicholas Moreano of CHGO when exactly the young pass rusher popped on their radar.
“Probably Texas and the big stage,” Syty said. “I think when you think about some of the best ones of the year, I thought that was it. I thought he did a really good job against a couple really good tackles on the other side. When the lights were brightest, this kid stepped up.”
Texas wasn’t the only notable opponent Austin Booker harassed.
He had a sack and two tackles for a loss against Kansas State, who went 9-4 last season. BYU, with future 2nd round tackle Kingsley Suamataia, and Illinois, with future 3rd round tackle Isaiah Adams, gave up a combined three sacks and four tackles for a loss against him. What is so frightening about this is Booker did it with no prior playing experience. He’d spent almost his entire college career on the bench before the 2023 season. When he finally got on the field, he dominated Division I competition.
Stuff like that isn’t supposed to happen. It is a testament to Austin Booker and his natural instincts for the position. He lacks experience but already plays like somebody who has been doing this for years. He’s only 240 lbs, but he showed he could rock guys onto their heels with power at the Senior Bowl. If the Bears can fill his body out and expand his arsenal of moves, he might become one of their biggest steals in years. Credit the team for recognizing what he could become with patience and work.
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@David Eric Washington has been CALLED one of the best D Line coaches. I’m always hopeful, and I realize that each player is different, but I want to see what he does before anointing him. He has someone to work with in Booker, but you know who I’m REALLY curious to see him work with? Dominique Robinson. Watching the differences in a player between bad and good coaching is remarkable. I watched Geno Smith for years. I thought he was a disaster. Really surprised that Seattle was able to get something out of him. Same thing with Ryan Tannehill and… Read more »
I think A Booker could be a game wrecker opposite Sweat. I can see him becoming a starter much like T Stevenson. He appears to be a natural at DE, and with E Washington coaching him up, a top NFL nutritionist and a very good personal trainer and weight coach, he is very capable of becoming a force to be reckoned with in the NFL. If he can provide 4-6 sacks as a rookie and say 6-10 pressures, it will definitely be a big difference as teams will have to account for this kid. Possible to see him add 10-15… Read more »
@BearCub30 Gonna be tough to add great trench players when we’re picking 32nd. At least we have two second rounders though.
I’m excited for next years draft already😂. I’m thinking they go heavy in the trenches and DB.
@PoochPest good thing they got one of the best D Line Coaches in Eric Washington this year to coach guys up then right?