Bears select Iowa punter Tory Taylor in Round 4 of 2024 NFL Draft

The Chicago Bears dedicated their first three picks of the 2024 NFL Draft to strengthen their offense. Their fourth selection, made by Ryan Poles, was used to improve the special teams.

The Bears selected Iowa punter Tory Taylor with the No. 122 overall pick in the fourth round on Saturday.

Entering the draft as the top punting prospect, the Australian native was a stand-out All-American kicker and one of Iowa’s best assets. With a height of 6-foot-4 and weight of 223 pounds, Taylor’s physical size complements his powerful leg strength. He consistently demonstrates his skill by regularly placing punts within the 20-yard line.

Taylor had ample chances to demonstrate his talent due to Iowa’s offensive difficulties. In 2023, he garnered the Ray Guy Award, recognizing him as the nation’s best punter. Additionally, he was selected as a first-team All-American and named the Big Ten Conference Punter of the Year, along with being chosen as a first-team All-Big Ten Conference. That same year, he broke the NCAA record for single-season punting yardage, with 4,479 yards, surpassing the previous record held by Johnny Pingel from Michigan State since 1938.

It was an interesting move for Poles to use a fourth-round pick on a punter. Chicago snagged Caleb Williams No. 1 overall, grabbed stud wideout Rome Odunze at No. 9, offensive tackle with upside Kiran Amegadjie in the third round and Taylor in the fourth.

Taylor said after being drafted he received a text from Williams, promising that “Hey, you’re not going to punt too much here,” per The Athletic’s Kevin Fishbain.

The punter wasn’t the final pick for Poles. The Bears traded a 2025 fourth-round pick to Buffalo for the No. 144 overall selection in the fifth round. Chicago used the pick to bolster the defense, adding defensive end Austin Booker out of Kansas.