Chicago Bears select Austin Booker in fifth round of 2024 NFL Draft

The Chicago Bears selected Kansas Jayhawks defensive lineman Austin Booker in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Booker enters the NFL after making a big impact for Kansas during the 2023 season.

Booker only played one year for the 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.”

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.

What NFL Draft analysts are saying about Austin Booker

Lance Zierlein of NFL.com shared his analysis of Booker for his draft profile. He compared Booker to Pro Bowl edge rusher Maxx Crosby and projected him to be selected in the third round.

Truly unique prospect combining tremendous upside with an extremely limited sample size,” Zierlein wrote. “A more conservative approach on Booker’s grade might be prudent, but it becomes a difficult route to take when observing his length, explosive athleticism and rush talent. Booker needs to get bigger and stronger, but that will come. The diversity of his rush approach is unheard of for a player with so little playing time.

“He can stride and dip at the top of the rush or beat tackles back inside with a Euro step or spin counter. He can stab and long-arm tackles into the pocket or stay separated from them at the point of attack. He chases quarterbacks and running backs with agility and burst but can be inconsistent dealing with a downhill running game. His reps against talented Texas left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. could be the springboard to push this gifted edge defender with monster traits up the draft board toward an exciting NFL career.”