In a surprising move during the NFL draft’s final stages, the Chicago Bears made a bold move, trading a future pick in 2024 to re-enter the draft for another player. Despite having utilized all their picks earlier, they secured a 5th round selection by trading their 4th rounder to Buffalo, initially acquired for veteran guard Ryan Bates. This maneuver by GM Ryan Poles completed their draft puzzle, acquiring Kansas pass rusher Austin Booker.
Booker’s selection garnered praise from many draft analysts who deemed it excellent value, considering his consensus 3rd round grade. Greg Gabriel, a former Bears scout, expressed astonishment at Chicago’s fortune in landing Booker, given his close monitoring of the player due to strong ties to his program. Gabriel found it remarkable not only that the Bears secured Booker in the 5th round but also that they acquired him at all, given his potential.
Indeed, Booker, at just 21 years old with a birthday not until December, has only begun to tap into his potential. Despite spending two years sidelined at Minnesota before transferring to Kansas in 2023, he showcased dominance with eight sacks and 12 tackles for loss in his debut season. Such performance from a player of his experience level is uncommon, typically taking several years for a pass rusher to reach such heights. Booker’s natural instincts and undeniable talent are evident.
What’s even more daunting is that the NFL allowed him to land with Eric Washington, the Bears’ new defensive coordinator renowned for his expertise in developing defensive linemen. Washington has a track record of transforming players like Kawann Short, Greg Hardy, Mario Addison, and Ed Oliver into highly productive assets. Under his guidance, Leonard Floyd, possessing a similar physique to Booker, recorded 10.5 sacks last season in Buffalo. With Booker’s potential and Washington’s coaching, he could emerge as one of the Bears’ greatest steals in recent memory.
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