The Chicago Bears need more pass rushers outside of Montez Sweat. Austin Booker might be the perfect candidate to grow into that role this season.
Booker started his college career at Minnesota and did not make much of an impact. He then transferred to Kansas for the 2023 season and he burst onto the scene for a breakout year with the Jayhawks. He had 56 total tackles and eight sacks which is more than his previous two seasons combined He was then drafted by the Bears in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
During the preseason in Chicago, Booker totaled nine tackles and 2 1/2 sacks while operating on limited snaps, but he showed that he can play at the professional level. His role is still being defined, but head coach Matt Eberflus recently spoke highly about what he thought of Booker during the preseason.
"You're talking about a rookie, a defensive lineman that's a rookie so we're still in the development phase of that," Eberflus said. "We feel really good where he is, in terms of a pass rusher, we've seen that in the preseason. Then really, working on his game to be an every-down end where he can play the run, set the edges that we ask, and do things that we want him to do in terms of playing run defense on first and second (downs). We're still going through that process, we feel really good about where our ends are, we had some additions as you guys know, we'll evaluate that as we go through the week."
Eberflus also said that as the season goes on, his role will be defined, and if Booker can shine, he'll get the role he deserves, regardless of whether it is a starter or not.
"We'll define his role, he'll have real responsibility there (in run defense) and if he can do all things, which we want him to do, he will do that," Eberflus said. "If he's a little bit developing in a certain phase of it, we'll just back him down to that particular department. But we're always going to evaluate and push him to be an every down end."
It is clear to the Bears that Booker has talent, but they are still trying to figure out how to fully develop and unlock it.
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