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Bears DE Austin Booker

Austin Booker is supposed to be the answer at edge rusher for the Chicago Bears… But the mock drafts aren’t so sure.

NFL.com and Sporting News both have the Bears landing Clemson edge rusher T.J. Parker, with Vinnie Iyer calling him “an ideal Cameron Jordan-like addition for Dennis Allen’s defense.” 

USA Today projected Auburn’s Keldric Faulk, noting that “Chicago ranked 31st in pass rush win rate” and has “a glaring hole at edge rusher.”

Different analysts. Different prospects. Same conclusion. And all of it puts Booker in an awkward spot heading into the most important offseason of his young career.

Where Austin Booker fits into all of this

GettyBears DE Austin Booker

The Chicago Bears did not sign Joey Bosa. They did not sign Jadeveon Clowney, or trade for Maxx Crosby. And they did not pursue Kayvon Thibodeaux when his name surfaced in rumors…

Instead, Ryan Poles added bodies to the interior like Neville Gallimore, Kentavius Street, and James Lynch. That silence was a quiet vote of confidence for Austin Booker (at least until the mock drafts started rolling in).

The former fifth round pick had a genuinely encouraging 2025 season despite missing the first eight weeks with a knee injury. In 10 regular season games, he posted 4.5 sacks, 12 quarterback hits, and five tackles for loss. He even added another sack in the Wild Card win over Green Bay.

Chicago Tribune insider Brad Biggs has indicated the Bears organization has optimism for Booker: “My feeling is the team is optimistic he can take a step forward in his third season and emerge as a more consistent pass rusher. He’s a hard worker, he’s coachable and he plays with a high motor. He’s everything coaches want in that regard.”

At just 23 years old, Austin Booker is actually younger than some players in the upcoming draft class. His production doubled from year 1 to year 2 across nearly every measurable category (sacks from 2 to 4.5, total pressures from 10 to 29, QB hurries from 5 to 16). 

Competition is coming either way

GettyBears DE Austin Booker

But even if the Chicago Bears believe in Austin Booker, adding a pass rusher in this draft is not a knock on him. It is just smart roster building.

The team ranked 24th in sacks last season with 35, and 31st in pass rush win rate. Montez Sweat cannot do it alone. Dayo Odeyingbo is returning from a torn Achilles after a disappointing one sack showing in eight games before the injury. Shemar Turner is also coming back from injury. The depth just is not there yet.

A rookie edge rusher added in the first or second round would not necessarily push Booker out. It could push him into the specialized role where he might actually thrive most… Coming off the bench on obvious passing downs, where his athleticism can do the most damage without his run defense problems getting exposed. 

But Austin Booker is entering the most important offseason of his young career either way. A healthy, productive year 3 makes the whole conversation irrelevant. Another injury, or another half season of inconsistency, and the pressure only grows.

The draft is coming. And how this situation resolves will say a lot about what the Bears actually believe their pass rush can become.