Austin Booker

The Bears selected Kansas defensive lineman Austin Booker with the 144th overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft. The Bears acquired the pick from the Buffalo Bills, in exchange for a 2025 fourth-round pick.

A 6-6, 245 pounder, Booker comes to Chicago following one year at Kansas after spending two seasons at Minnesota. He appeared in 18 games over his collegiate career, recording 58 tackles (41 solo) with 8.0 sacks, 13 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and one pass defensed.

The Bears selected Kansas defensive lineman Austin Booker with the 144th overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft. The Bears acquired the pick from the Buffalo Bills, in exchange for a 2025 fourth-round pick.

A 6-6, 245 pounder, Booker comes to Chicago following one year at Kansas after spending two seasons at Minnesota. He appeared in 18 games over his collegiate career, recording 58 tackles (41 solo) with 8.0 sacks, 13 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and one pass defensed.

DRAFT NOTES

• Booker is the sixth player from Kansas to be drafted by the Bears and the second in the Common Draft Era (since 1967). He is the first Jayhawk taken by the Bears since quarterback Bobby Douglass was taken in the second-round of the 1969 Draft.
• He is the 188th player drafted from Kansas since 1936 and the 112th taken in the Common Draft Era. Booker is also the second Jayhawk selected in the 2024 NFL Draft, joining offensive lineman Dominick Puni who was selected in the third-round by the San Francisco 49ers.
• Booker is the fifth defensive lineman drafted by general manager Ryan Poles, joining Dominique Robinson (2022), Gervon Dexter Sr. (2023), Zacch Pickens (2023) and Travis Bell (2023).

AUSTIN BOOKER KANSAS OVERVIEW (courtesy of Kansas media relations):

• Booker transferred to Kansas following two seasons at Minnesota. He recorded 56 tackles (40 solo) with 8.0 sacks, two forced fumbles and one pass defensed at Kansas.
• Booker had the most sacks for the Jayhawks in a single-season since 2016 (10.0-Dorance Armstrong Jr.).
• After one season at KU, Booker opted out of the 2023 Guaranteed Rate Bowl and skipped his remaining eligibility to enter the 2024 NFL Draft.

AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA AND CENTER GROVE HIGH SCHOOL

• Booker appeared in six games for Minnesota in 2022. He recorded two tackles (one solo) with one tackle for loss for the Golden Gophers. Booker did not appear in a game as a freshman.
• He attended Center Grove High School in Greenwood, Indiana and was a three-year letterman, playing defensive end and wide receiver.
• As a senior, Booker led the Trojans back to the 6A state title game and finished off a perfect 14-0 season, compiling 36 tackles, 11.0 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and two forced fumbles.
• He also started on the Center Grove basketball team and threw discus for the track & field team.