Surprising Bears Rookie Defender Could Make Huge Impact

The 2024 draft class for the Chicago Bears is a major one for the franchise. This could be the class that helps propel the team back into prominence in the NFL.

With the No. 1 pick, they selected USC quarterback Caleb Williams. A franchise that has been desperate for a star under center looks to have one in the former Heisman trophy award winner.

Just a few picks later, they added a long-term weapon for him to grow with. At No. 9 overall, they selected Washington wide receiver Rome Odunze.

Both of those players will be long-term building blocks for the Bears for years to come. Fans already have visions of them becoming one of the best tandems in the league.

It would make sense if one of them was among the rookies highlighted by Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report . In a recent piece, he talked about which first-year players are turning heads early in camp.

A Bears player is shining in camp, but none of the offensive stars. Instead, it is edge rusher Austin Booker who looks like one of the steals of the 2024 NFL Draft.

“I saw a lot of things that I’m really excited about,” said Bears defensive coordinator Eric Washington, per Alex Shapiro of NBC Sports Chicago. “His hand usage. His ability to counter. And with a pass rusher, especially a young player, it’s just a mindset. He’s competing out there and he’s competing to win.”

A fifth-round pick out of Kansas, Booker surprisingly dropped to Day 3 of the draft. He had a third-round grade from Bleacher Report’s Matt Holder and even that projection looks like it could have been conservative with how he has performed to this point.

“Booker exceeding expectations would be huge for the Bears defense. Montez Sweat figures to be the team’s best outside pass rusher, but the hierarchy is up in the air after him.

Booker should have a pathway to a role early on if he continues his success in camp,” Ballentine wrote.

Finding another capable pass rusher to bookend Montez Sweat would be great for the Bears. It coming in the form of a fifth-round rookie is the kind of value that good teams unearth in the draft for sustained success.

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