Austin Booker rookie contract figures with Chicago Bears revealed after 2024 NFL Draft
Austin Booker was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the fifth round and his contract figures were revealed following the 2024 NFL Draft.
Booker is projected to sign a four-year rookie deal worth $4,368,287, according to Spotrac. He could be an under the radar steal for the Bears’ emerging defense.
Booker only played one year for the Kansas Jayhawks after spending the 2021 and 2022 seasons at Minnesota. In 2023, the Indiana native recorded 56 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, eight sacks and two forced fumbles. His production in 2023 led to him being selected to the All-Big 12 First Team and named Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year.
In 2022, Booker played in six games for Minnesota as a reserved defensive lineman and notched two tackles and one tackle for loss. He redshirted 2021.
ESPN NFL Draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. recently talked about what he likes about Booker.
“What do I like more than anything? I like length. Long arms,” Kiper said. Being able to utilize that ability to basically deflect passes away, become a factor. Not let an offensive tackle get into your body. The way he disengages against the run, he seals the edge there, he’s still getting better. He’s just scratched the surface of what he can be in the National Football League.”
For his part, Field Yates agreed with Kiper. Austin Booker has a ton of potential, but the challenge is balancing his upside and lack of experience with where he’s being projected.
“He might need a full redshirt year because he has played so little football, even at the college football level, but if he hits that top percentile outcome, Austin Booker could become one of the best pure pass rushers from a class that is not exactly stock full of them,” Yates concluded.
Booker played high school football at Center Grove High School in Greenwood, Indiana, where he was a three-star recruit. He ranked the No. 666 overall prospect and the No. 70 edge rusher in the 2021 class, according to the On3 Industry Rating.