Chicago Bears sign punter Tory Taylor to rookie contract

The Bears have signed fourth-round draft choice Tory Taylor to a four-year deal on Saturday, the team announced. The former Iowa punter in the first member of Chicago’s 2024 NFL Draft class to sign his rookie deal.

Taylor won the Ray Guy Award, given to college football’s best punter, this past season for the Hawkeyes after averaging 48.2 yards on 93 punts, including 32 punts fielded inside the 20 to go with seven touchbacks.

“Really excited about Tory,” Bears GM Ryan Poles said after picking Taylor. “One of the best punters I’ve ever seen, just in terms of his placement as well as his leg strength to be able to flip the field.”

The Bears selected Taylor with the No. 122 overall pick in the fourth round of the draft as part of an impressive weekend, even with only five selections. Of course, the headliner of the class was quarterback Caleb Williams at No. 1 overall, but Chicago also landed star receiver Rome Odunze with the No. 9 pick.

As a fourth round pick, Taylor is set to sign a four-year deal valued at $4,780,061 with the Bears, according to Spotrac. At the time, the selection of Taylor continued to draw mixed reviews, although ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. argued he was a “key pick” when looking at the Bears’ draft class.

“Tory is a weapon for the whole football team,” coach Matt Eberflus said after the draft. “The punt and pins are huge. This guy is a big talent, so we’re excited to have him.”

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