When the Chicago Bears did not take an edge rusher early in the 2026 NFL Draft, it became clear that they felt good about some of their in-house options. One player they appear to be especially high on is Austin Booker. Head coach Ben Johnson recently noted that Booker is getting bigger, continuing to develop, and fitting in well with the coaching staff's expectations.
The Chicago Bears are expecting big things from Austin Booker in 2026
Booker was selected in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft and recorded 1.5 sacks as a rookie. He followed that up with 4.5 sacks in his second season. His overall production took a noticeable step forward as well, going from 10 pressures as a rookie to 35 pressures in year two.
That growth is a big reason why the Bears believe there is still more upside to unlock heading into 2026. Booker is continuing to develop physically, and the team appears confident that his best football is still ahead of him.
When the Bears first drafted Booker, the expectation was that he would primarily serve as a designated pass rusher. His athletic traits made him an intriguing developmental player, but he was not necessarily expected to handle a large workload right away.
However, circumstances changed quickly. The Bears changed defensive staffs, dealt with injuries along the edge, and ultimately asked Booker to take on a much larger role than originally anticipated.
As a rookie, Booker played 283 snaps. That number jumped to 658 snaps in his second season. Along with the increase in playing time came additional responsibilities.
One of the biggest changes was his workload against the run. Booker played 120 run-defense snaps as a rookie before seeing that number increase to 242 in year two. While it was encouraging to see him handle a larger role, it was also a significant jump for a young player who was still developing physically.
That is likely one reason why the Bears wanted to see him add more mass entering his third season. If Booker can continue improving as a run defender while maintaining his pass-rush ability, he could become a much more complete player.
The Bears may need that growth sooner rather than later. Dayo Odeyingbo and Shemar Turner are expected to provide depth on the edge, but both players are coming off season-ending injuries from last year. As they continue their rehabilitation process this offseason, they are not getting the same opportunities to develop on the field as Booker.
That reality could put even more pressure on Booker entering the season. The Bears are going to need him to take on a bigger role and continue building on the progress he showed last year.
Based on Johnson's comments, the organization believes he is ready for that challenge. Booker has already shown steady improvement through his first two NFL seasons, and if that trend continues, he could become one of the more important pieces of the Bears' defense in 2026.
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