Stanford DL Thomas Booker is up next in Unpacking Future Packers, a countdown previewing the 2022 NFL draft for Packers Wire.
The Unpacking Future Packers Countdown is a countdown of 100 prospects that could be selected by the Green Bay Packers in the 2022 NFL draft.
If the Green Bay Packers don’t add a defensive lineman in the first three rounds of the 2022 NFL draft, a player they could target on day three is Thomas Booker. The Stanford defensive lineman checks in at No. 17 in the Unpacking Future Packers countdown.
Booker came to Stanford as a four-star recruit out of Maryland, where he was a three-sport athlete and won a state championship in the shot put. Booker’s father, Earl, played linebacker at Wisconsin.
In 2018, Booker recorded four tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. The following season, Booker recorded 50 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss and four sacks. In six games in 2020, Booker recorded three tackles for loss and one sack.
This past season Booker recorded a career high 59 tackles, five tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. He finished his career with three blocked extra points.
“Thomas Booker was a good leader for Stanford this past season,” Ben Parker, the publisher of Stanford Rivals, said. “He definitely was the top player on the defensive line. He didn’t have the most productive season stat wise, but a lot of that had to do with the fact that he was double-teamed a lot and didn’t get a ton of support on the defensive line. Stats don’t tell the full story of how good he can be at the next level.”
Booker has a high IQ on and off the football field. He shows a great understanding of the game on the field. Off the field, Booker was a finalist for the Academic Heisman (William Campbell Trophy) and was a two-time Academic All-American.
“Booker’s greatest strength is his intelligence,” Parker said. “On top of being a physical freak, he understands the game at a very high level and is one of the smartest guys in the draft. He really understands the game and rarely makes any mental mistakes.”
Booker is strong at the point of attack. He uses his power and strong hands to throw blockers to the side. He has the lateral agility to make plays up and down the line of scrimmage. With his initial quickness and strength he’s able to force his way through gaps to impact the play behind the line of scrimmage. He shows a good radar for the football and plays with good effort in pursuit.
“He’s good against the run,” Parker said. “He wraps up well and has a good feel for getting in the backfield and making plays. He loves getting tackles for loss and being a force inside.”
As a pass-rusher, Booker is slippery. He’s able to get upfield quickly with a quick first step and initial burst. Booker’s 1.68 10-yard split was third best among interior defensive lineman, trailing only Georgia’s Jordan Davis and Devonte Wyatt.
Booker has the ideal play strength and is able to walk offensive lineman back into the quarterback’s lap. He’s a fluid athlete and is effective on stunts and twists. By all reports, Booker was nearly unblockable during Shrine Bowl week.
“Booker offers a nice blend of strength and speed,” Parker said. “He has a variety of moves and commands a lot of double teams to slow him down. He should be a guy that commands a lot of attention from opposing offensive lines, possibly freeing up plays for others. He wraps up well, has a good knack for tackles for loss, and makes plays when given the chance.”
Fit with the Packers
Booker is a day three pick. He had flashes of being a disruptive player during his time at Stanford, but could never piece it all together. The Stanford product has all the tools that teams are coveting. With his ability to impact the run and passing game, Booker could develop into a three-down player.
“He has great physical tools, is a high character player, and is really intelligent and engaging,” Parker said. “He understands the game at a high level. He rarely makes mistakes, and should be a great teammate. He also can be a great spokesperson for a team and do great in community outreach stuff as well. Just an all-around good dude both on and off the field. He’s a very impressive guy to be around.”
The Packers need to bolster the depth behind Kenny Clark, Jarran Reed and Dean Lowry and Booker could serve as a quality rotational piece as a rookie, with the ability to develop into a starter down the road.
At Stanford, Booker was the guy. If he were to land in Green Bay, he’d see a lot of one-on-one situations, where his blend of power and quickness could make him a menace playing alongside players like Rashan Gary, Preston Smith and Clark.
On top of all the things Booker can do on the field, he seems like a “Packer” guy off the field. He is highly intelligent and was voted team captain twice during his time at Stanford. Don’t be surprised if the Packers select the Stanford product with one of their fourth round picks.
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