Bears DE Should Be ‘A Little Bit Worried’ Heading Into Training Camp

The future of Chicago Bears pass rusher Austin Booker remains a murky one heading into Year 2.

The Bears selected him in the fifth round (144th overall) of the 2024 NFL Draft, and despite being a later-round pick, Booker made an impact with a standout preseason. He finished with nine pressures and 2.5 sacks over 94 snaps, leading to a solid PFF grade of 79.7, which was fifth-best among rookie edge rushers and 24th out of 231 qualifying players.

That was the preseason, though, and as we know, the regular season is an entirely different beast.

On the June 11 “Hoge & Jahns” podcast, Adam Jahns of The Athletic and CHGO’s Adam Hoge discussed what they’ve seen from the Bears throughout the offseason and mandatory minicamp. In a segment called “Excited, Worried or Hesitant?” the co-hosts debated which players to be excited, worried or hesitant about. Both chose Booker as the player they’re most worried about.

Why Some Are Worried About Chicago Bears Pass Rusher Austin Booker

GettyShould we be worried about defensive end Austin Booker of the Chicago Bears?

 

Bears first-year head coach Ben Johnson named four players who stood out to him: rookie LB Ruben Hyppolite, tight end Joel Wilson, rookie running back Kyle Monangai, and veteran pass rusher Dominique Robinson. Jahns thinks Dom Rob getting a mention over Booker could be a tad ominous.

“With Booker, he gets the worried description because, why is Dominique Robinson being highlighted and commended by Ben Johnson and he’s not? So if I’m Austin Booker, it’s time to get to work,” Jahns said. “It’s time to be a little bit worried, a little bit motivated about my place on this team.”

“I agree with you on Booker because, we just haven’t seen much of him,” Hoge added. “I could go through my notes in the last four weeks — I don’t know I wrote down (number) 94 a single time.”

During the 2024 regular season, Booker appeared in all 17 games, playing 27% of the team’s defensive snaps and 18% of Chicago’s special teams snaps. He finished with 18 pressures, 21 total tackles (four for loss) and 1.5 sacks. He occasionally showed up in defensive packages where he dropped into zone flats to help disguise blitzes, but the Bears were hoping when they drafted him he could turn into a beast on the line. That just hasn’t happened yet.

With a formidable new defensive coordinator in Dennis Allen, 2025 is his chance to carve out his own role in the team’s pass rush rotation.

Don’t Count Booker Out Yet

Now in Year 2, Booker is entering a pivotal year, there’s no doubt. A breakout in 2025 might position him for at least a key role moving forward, whereas stagnation could see him fade into obscurity. The Bears are also paper-thin when it comes to depth on the edge, so it’s not like they’re going to cut him.

“I think he’s is a piece of clay,” longtime Bears play-by-play commentator Jeff Joniak said about Booker, via Marquee Sports Network. “Second-year player that’s going to have a benefit of an offseason in the weight room to gain strength. That guy’s got some special gifts, and he plays aggressively and violently when he rushes. I thought he had a high success rate, winning. He may not have had the sacks, but that’s a guy to keep an eye on as well.”

But 2025 marks a real test for the young DE. If he hits a few developmental milestones — 5 or 6 sacks and a few forced fumbles would be nice — he could become a key component of Chicago’s defense. If not, he risks plateauing on the fringes.