Bears landed a steal with 5th-round pick Austin Booker

Heading into the 2024 NFL draft, the Chicago Bears had a massive need for another dynamic edge rusher to line up across from Montez Sweat, and while they waited until the fifth round to address it, they may have landed one of the biggest steals in the draft with Austin Booker out of Kansas.

The Bears traded their fourth-round pick in 2025 for the No. 144 overall pick in this year’s draft to secure Booker, who could have easily been a Day 2 selection. He brings the kind of athleticism, versatility, and big-play instincts that could make him a dynamic edge player at the next level:

Austin Booker has HUGE upside and could be one of the steals of the draft, already getting praise from Montez Sweat and others

In ‘23, 50 TOT, 12 TFL, 8 sacks, 2 FF, 1 PD

He could be the EDGE Chicago is looking for to pair with Sweat for the long haul pic.twitter.com/kTTTaMiR0z

— Just Another Year Chicago: Bears (@OfficialJAYCHI) June 27, 2024

Booker will need some refinement in terms of his technique, but there’s no denying the physical traits he brings to the table, nor the production he put up for the Jayhawks last season. If he can reach his ceiling, the Bears might just have their bookend pass rushers for years to come.