Tory Taylor of Chicago Bears punting football.
Tory Taylor (Photo via @DZedermanTwitter)Football fans were saying the same about Chicago Bears rookie punter after a video of his powerful leg at minicamp quickly went viral.Tory Taylor, who turns 27 on July 10, was drafted by both the Bears and the CFL’s BC Lions. Chicago selected the Melbourne, Australia native with a fourth-round pick (No. 122 overall) in last month’s NFL Draft.ESPN Chicago’s Danny Zederman shared a viral video of Taylor displaying his incredible leg at the Bears’ rookie minicamp session on Friday. Just look at this near-perfect punt from the 2023 Ray Guy Award winner:

And football fans were all saying the same thing about Taylor after this video went viral:

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After drafting Taylor, the Bears waived Trenton Gill, who spent the previous two years as the team’s punter. The 25-year-old Gill averaged 46.1 yards per punt (67 total punts) last season and remains a free agent.

The Bears Have A Promising Set Of Rookies, Including Tory Taylor Entering 2024

Chicago has been mired in mediocrity over the last 15 years, but they’re finally on track to emerge as a long-term Super Bowl contender. And it’s thanks largely to the grade-A draft that GM Ryan Poles put together in Detroit.

For starters, the Bears used the No. 1 pick (courtesy of the Carolina Panthers from the Bryce Young trade) on USC quarterback and 2022 Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams. Regarded as one of the best QB prospects of the 21st century, Williams has the skill set to be the franchise-changing signal-caller the Bears haven’t had in the Super Bowl era.

Chicago also used the No. 9 pick on can’t-miss Washington WR prospect Rome Odunze. If there weren’t so many QB-needy teams in this year’s draft, Odunze would have been a top-five draft selection.

And if Taylor can lock down the Bears’ punting job, this will have the makings of being one of the greatest individual team draft classes in recent memory.

BREAKING: Chicago Bears Sign Interesting Name At Quarterback Following 2024 NFL Draft

Chicago Bears helmet shown on field.
Chicago Bears helmet (Photo by Getty Images)The Chicago Bears have signed nine undrafted free agents, including a former standout quarterback out of Western Kentucky.On Thursday, the Chicago Bears announced that they have signed nine undrafted free agents, including former Hilltoppers quarterback Austin Reed. The 24-year-old previously played for Southern Florida and West Florida before transferring to Western Kentucky in 2022.

The other undrafted free agent signings are Kentucky tight end Brenden Bates, University of British Columbia offensive lineman Theo Benedet, UCLA linebacker Carl Jones Jr., James Madison defensive end Jamree Kromah, Louisiana-Lafayette wide receiver Peter LeBlanc, Illinois defensive tackle Keith Randolph Jr., Toy defensive back Reddy Stewart and Howard running back Ian Wheeler.

Reed is currently slotted as the fourth quarterback on Chicago’s depth chart, behind 2024 first overall pick and starter Caleb Williams, Tyson Bagent and veteran Brett Rypien.

In his final season at Western Kentucky, Reed completed 61.5 percent of pass attempts for 3,340 yards, 31 touchdowns and 11 interceptions to go along with 100 rushing yards and four rushing scores.

 

Chicago Bears Are A Sleeper Team Entering 2024

The Chicago Bears have been mired in mediocrity since their loss to the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl 41 back in 2006. They’ve only made the postseason three times since (2010, 2018 and 2020), with only one playoff victory in that span.

But the Bears are finally back on the up. Williams has all the tools to be a superstar quarterback in this league, and he has a potent supporting cast led by Rome Odunze, DJ Moore, Keenan Allen, D’Andre Swift, Khalil Herbert and Cole Kmet.

Chicago managed to win seven games in 2023, and that was before all of these splashy offseason additions. Throw in the fact that Chicago will have star pass-rusher Montez Sweat (acquired in a midseason trade with the Washington Commanders), for a full year, and the Bears certainly look like a team that can push for a playoff spot in 2024.