According to Justin Melo of The Draft Network, the San Francisco 49ers held a virtual pre-draft meeting with Stanford defensive tackle Thomas Booker. Melo reports that the team wanted him at its local pro day on April 13, but Booker was wrapping up a visit with the Baltimore Ravens.
Booker has also met virtually with the Tennessee Titans, Indianapolis Colts, and New England Patriots, per Melo.
"Booker is a 6-3, 301 pound versatile DL that played multiple positions at Sanford," wrote Melo. "He is supremely athletic ... Plenty of mid-round intrigue."
#Stanford DT Thomas Booker had a Top 30 Visit with the #Texans. He also attended #Ravens local day. The #49ers wanted Booker at their local day, but he was still in Baltimore. Booker has met virtually w/ #Titans, 49ers, #Colts and #Patriots to name some. #Chargers like him, too.
— Justin M (@JustinM_NFL) April 21, 2022
Booker registered 59 tackles, five tackles for a loss, a sack, and a pass defensed through 12 game appearances as a senior in 2021, per Sports Reference. He recorded 159 tackles, 20.5 tackles for a loss, 9.5 sacks, eight passes defensed, an interception, and a forced fumble through his four collegiate seasons.
At the NFL Scouting Combine, the 6' 3 3/8" and 301-pound Booker had a 40-time of 4.94 seconds, a broad jump of 110 inches, a 7.33-second three-cone drill time, and a 20-yard shuttle time of 4.41 seconds. His other measurables include an arm length of 33 1/4 inches and hands measuring 10 5/8 inches.
Booker had 31 reps in the bench press at his personal Pro Day. He is from Ellicott City, MD.
"Earl Thomas Booker IV was considered one of the top 20 recruits nationally at defensive end while at Gilman High School in Maryland, where he was a first-team all-state pick, a track team captain (won a state title in shot put) and senior class vice president," wrote Chad Reuter in Booker's draft profile for NFL.com. "At Stanford, he contributed as a true freshman in 2018, starting three of 13 contests and racking up 28 stops, four for loss with 3.5 sacks, one interception and two pass breakups.
"Booker garnered honorable mention All-Pac-12 notice as a sophomore in 2019, accumulating 50 tackles, 8.5 for loss with four sacks and three pass breakups in 12 games (six starts). He was a team captain and second-team all-conference pick in 2020 (21 tackles, three for loss with one sack), tying for fifth in the FBS with two blocked kicks, and 2021 (59 tackles, five for loss with 1.5 sacks).
"In 2020, Booker helped found CardinalBLCK (Brilliance, Leadership, Community and Knowledge) as a safe space for Black student-athletes. He was a finalist for the 2021 William V. Campbell Award, also known as the academic Heisman, and the Senior CLASS Award for excellence on and off the field. Thomas' father played football at the University of Wisconsin."
The Draft Network wrote the following about Booker within his scouting report:
Stanford's Thomas Booker is a versatile defensive lineman who can be a disruptive player versus the run and the pass. Booker is a four-year contributor for the Cardinal, playing a variety of roles. He has aligned all around the defensive front, playing anything from 0-technique all the way to 9-technique. He is a good overall athlete with good lateral mobility and change of direction. In the passing game, Booker flashes an excellent first step to get upfield and stress offensive linemen's edges. He has good length and demonstrates above average hands when rushing the quarterback. Booker can win with a bull rush when converting speed to power and has a nonstop motor. In the running game, Booker primarily wins with quickness and by using his long arms to stack and shed off blocks. He isn't the most stout at the point of attack and can get pushed back at times. His best roles will either come as a 3-technique in a 4-3 or a 5 or 4i in a 3-4. His versatility and disruptive upside will be attractive for evaluators, but his lack of top-end power and strength may limit his ability to be a full-time player at the next level.
