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3 Bears on Thin Ice With Dennis Allen as Defensive Coordinator

The Chicago Bears' new defensive coordinator will have a huge impact on a few current players.

By Charlie Smith

Oct 17, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints head coach Dennis Allen reacts to a play call against the Denver Broncos during the first half at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
Oct 17, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints head coach Dennis Allen reacts to a play call against the Denver Broncos during the first half at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images / Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
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2. Austin Booker, DE

The Bears had only four picks last season to start the draft but traded back into the 5th round to grab Austin Booker out of Kansas, who they viewed as someone they could groom into a legit edge threat. A team has to be in love with a guy in order to trade back into the draft to get him, and that is exactly what they did for Booker. He is super athletic and still has the potential to become a true threat on the edge of a defense.

With that being said, he may need to bulk up even more than originally planned. It is no secret that Dennis Allen likes to utilize massive edge defenders. Cameron Jordan, one of the best defensive ends in recent years playing under Allen, is listed as 6'4, 287 pounds. Marcus Davenport, the 15th overall selection by the Saints and Allen in 2018 is listed as 6'6, 265 pounds. Chase Young, who was signed by the Saints last year under Allen as the head coach, is listed as 6'5, 264 pounds.

Austin Booker is listed as 6'4, 240 pounds, so he is much smaller than the examples provided above. It was definitely known that Booker would need to put on weight at the next level in order to be a 3-down player versus a pass-rush specialist. The addition of Allen will only emphasize this more. Booker has the talent to take a leap in 2025 but only saw 283 snaps in his rookie year. He may find himself pushed down the depth chart if someone else is brought in and he does not bulk up.

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