The Bears demonstrated their faith in their personnel by selecting a punter in the fourth round. But they also found a legitimate leg to kick the ball on fourth down.
What was the thought process behind selecting the first punter off the board?
“I didn’t expect him to get much further,” Poles was quoted as saying on “The Pat McAfee Show.” “I didn’t think I’d be able to lift him up when we got to round five. Really, the intention is to make whomever we’re playing really uncomfortable.
“I didn’t play much in the NFL but I know running onto the field and having the ball spotted on the 10-yard line is a very uncomfortable feeling. It’s very disheartening at times. And I love taking advantage of field position. And really, that should help us with points, as well.”
When you pick a punter in the fourth round of the NFL Draft, you better get the best one. And in Taylor, the Bears have unquestionably selected the top punter in the draft, as well as maybe the finest punter in NCAA history.
Taylor is recognized for having a massive leg. And he left Iowa with multiple NCAA records. His career average of 46.3 yards is the best ever recorded by an NCAA punter. His 4,479 total punt yards are also a record.
Taylor is also good at pinning down opponents. He had 32 punts within the 20-yard line last season, and his punts resulted in 29 fair catches in 2023. Taylor was voted a unanimous All-American last year and received the Ray Guy Award, which honors the best punter in the country.
The Bears are already preparing him to be the team’s fourth-down leg. They waived punter Trenton Gill on Wednesday, securing Taylor’s spot on the roster.
