The Chicago Bears traded into the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft, acquiring the 144th pick from the Buffalo Bills in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. After utilizing picks on QB Caleb Williams, WR Rome Odunze, OT Kiran Amegadjie, and P Tory Taylor, the Bears selected EDGE rusher Austin Booker out of Kansas. The selection the Bears used to nab Booker was actually the same draft pick that Chicago sent to Buffalo this offseason for OG Ryan Bates.
Here's a rundown from On Tap Sports Net's Building the Board scout Steve Letizia on what to expect from the newest Bear.
"Booker is a twitchy pass rusher who wins primarily with athleticism. He can threaten the edge with his speed, use his long arms to get into the chest plate of the offensive tackle, and utilize his flexibility to bend around the edge. He needs to do everything more consistently, but the flashes are enticing.
"With his quick, active hands, Booker has a little Maxx Crosby to his game (coming out of Eastern Michigan). Crosby bulked up when entering the NFL, and Booker must do the same, which is no easy task, but he has the frame to do it. If you told me in five years he's the best pass rusher in this class, I wouldn't be surprised. And if he's out of football in five years, I wouldn't be surprised either."
As of this writing, the Bears don't have another pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. If Ryan Poles wants to acquire another selection, he'll have to make another trade.
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