Baltimore Ravens Draft: Kansas Edge Rusher Austin Booker Replacing Jadeveon Clowney?

Should the Baltimore Ravens take a risk on the upside of Kansas Jayhawks edge rusher Austin Booker and draft him to replace Jadeveon Clowney?

Feb 29, 2024; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Kansas defensive lineman Austin Booker (DL28) works out / Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Heading into next season, the Baltimore Ravens are plagued with having to figure out how to improve after an already dominant regular season a year ago despite losing veterans in free agency.

One way that the team can attempt to take a step forward in 2024 is by finding a replacement for defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, who left the team in free agency, and Kansas Jayhawks edge rusher Austin Booker might be the right man for the job.

Feb 29, 2024; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Kansas defensive lineman Austin Booker (DL28) works out / Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Clowney tied his single-season sack record in his lone year with the Ravens, totaling 9.5 sacks before signing with his hometown Carolina Panthers. As for the Jayhawks prospect, Booker, his professional career is rooted in the belief that he has tremendous untapped potential. 

Booker began his collegiate career at Minnesota, but the three-star high school prospect saw almost no playing time with the Golden Gophers, getting action in six games as a red-shirt freshman and totaling two tackles before transferring to Kansas.

In his lone season as a Jayhawk, Booker had 56 total tackles, 12 for loss, eight sacks, and two forced fumbles while playing in 12 games. For such an inexperienced player, Booker was surprisingly effective, and his production forced people to take notice, with some scouts comparing him to multi-time Pro Bowler and All-Pro Maxx Crosby of the Las Vegas Raiders.

“The diversity of (Booker’s) rush approach is unheard of for a player with so little playing time,” NFL.com writes. “He can stride and dip at the top of the rush or beat tackles back inside with a Euro step or spin counter. He can stab and long-arm tackles into the pocket or stay separated from them at the point of attack. He chases quarterbacks and running backs with agility and burst but can be inconsistent dealing with a downhill running game. His reps against talented Texas left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. could be the springboard to push this gifted edge defender with monster traits up the draft board toward an exciting NFL career.”

Given Booker’s combination of upside and inexperience, he seems like an ideal player for Baltimore to draft around the third round. Currently, the Ravens are set to draft No. 93 overall in the third round, and drafting Booker could pay dividends by helping not only maintain the team’s current standing as a Super Bowl contender but also adding a potential foundational piece to play alongside Justin Madubuike on the defensive line.