The most recent installment of HBO’s “Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Chicago Bears” offered a wealth of fresh perspectives on the squad, ranging from rookie quarterback Caleb Williams’ composure in the face of difficulty during their second preseason game to the front office’s trade aspirations of pass rusher Matthew Judon.
But after the team selected rookie Austin Booker in the fifth round, general manager Ryan Poles had one of the best quotes of the third episode on August 20.
On the third day of the 2024 NFL Draft, “Hard Knocks” took viewers behind the scenes into the Bears’ war room, where they saw how the team fielded calls in an effort to find a trade partner that would allow them to return to the fifth round.
Coming into the draft, the Bears had just four overall selections and none past the fourth round. However, Poles made it a point to trade back into the fifth round in order to secure Booker, a young pass rusher from Kansas with what appears to be a high skill level.
In the end, the Bears decided to give the Buffalo Bills their 2025 fourth-round pick in return for the original No. 144 overall pick in the fifth round. They utilised this pick to choose Booker and complete their five-man draft class.
Following a round of applause from the audience, Poles turned to face Bears team president Kevin Warren and head coach Matt Eberflus, expressing his unwavering confidence in Booker.
In the episode, Poles informed them that “he’ll be a guy in a year.”
Austin Booker Has Excelled in 2024 Preseason Action: Going into the 2024 draft, Booker had potential and interest. For the Jayhawks in 2023, the 21-year-old had a fantastic season that included eight sacks, 12 tackles for loss, 56 total tackles, and
Despite his two forced fumbles, scouts couldn’t agree on where to choose him because this was only his first season as a real disruptor.
Some, like Chad Reuter of NFL.com, thought Booker might be selected as early as the second round. Some believed that he was a better choice on Day 3. Daniel Jeremiah of NFL Network even speculated that Booker would have been selected late in the first round in 2025 if he had chosen to return to school and hone his undeveloped skills.
Ultimately, the Bears gambled on Booker’s enormous upside, and they have already started to see in the preseason how it could benefit them in 2024.
For the first three games of the preseason, Booker has been among the Bears’ best players. In their second exhibition game against the Bills, Booker had an eye-opening performance, recording 2.5 sacks, three quarterback hits, five pressures, and five tackles. With one game remaining in the preseason, Pro Football Focus ranks him as the fourth-best rookie edge rusher out of those who have played at least 30 defensive snaps.
It remains to be seen if Booker demands a starting spot on Day 1 for the Bears defence, but his early potential indicates Chicago might have made a great pick in the fifth round.
According to Austin Booker In 2024, he is a “Sleeper.”
Throughout the regular season, Booker will be included in the mix by the Bears in some fashion. Since Eberflus prefers his defensive linemen to rotate frequently, Booker should still receive opportunities to show what he can do even if DeMarcus Walker begins opposite Montez Sweat.
For as long as Booker remains unnoticed as a fifth-round rookie, opposition offences should be more aware of and attentive to more seasoned players like Sweat and Walker, who Booker is looking forward to working with.
On July 29, Booker stated, “It’s just going to open it up because I’m a sleeper.” “This year, it will be huge to be able to take advantage of the one-on-one and get free because not many people know about me and having the slide go to them. I get a one-on-one on my side.”
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