Head coach Matt Eberflus of the Chicago Bears may soon have to make a tough decision regarding punter Trenton Gill’s future with the team. Gill, who was selected in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL draft, has held the punter position for the past two seasons. However, there is speculation that the Bears may choose to draft another punter in the upcoming NFL draft to provide competition for Gill.
According to longtime Bears insider Brad Biggs, Iowa punter Tory Taylor is a strong contender for the Bears in the draft. Biggs believes that Taylor could be the highest-drafted punter in over a decade and could potentially be selected as early as the second or third rounds. Taylor’s impressive performance at the Senior Bowl, including his ability to land punts inside the 10- and 5-yard lines with bounce and spin, has caught the attention of scouts.
Taylor, a 26-year-old Australian native, joined the Hawkeyes in 2020 to play college football. During his four seasons at Iowa, Taylor demonstrated exceptional accuracy and directional control, pinning opponents back inside their own 20-yard-line on 43.1% of his 295 total punts. With the Bears’ defensive-minded head coach Eberflus, the addition of a player with Taylor’s skill set could be highly appealing.
Taylor’s impressive statistics at Iowa, averaging 46.3 yards per punt and 48.2 yards per punt in 2023, indicate that he could be a top-10 punter in the NFL. His exceptional performance earned him the Ray Guy Award in 2023, which recognizes the nation’s best punter. Additionally, Taylor’s ability to put a nasty spin on the ball makes his punts difficult to catch and field.
The decision to draft Taylor will ultimately be up to Bears general manager Ryan Poles. However, it is clear that the Bears need to bring in competition for Gill in order to improve their punting game. Many fans and analysts believe that the Bears should have addressed this issue sooner, as competition in training camp could have pushed Gill to perform at a higher level.
SEVENTH-ROUND PICK DEFIES EXPECTATIONS
In a surprising turn of events, the Chicago Bears’ seventh-round pick, Gill, has exceeded expectations and secured the starting punter position. Despite being underestimated, the 25-year-old has impressed with his performance over the past two seasons. Gill’s powerful leg has delivered some memorable punts, including a career-long 76-yarder against the Arizona Cardinals on Christmas Eve.
CONSISTENCY AND ACCURACY CONCERNS
However, Gill has struggled with consistency, accuracy, and ball placement, hindering the Bears’ ability to flip the field consistently. According to Pro Football Reference, Gill’s average of 46.1 yards per punt last season ranked 25th out of 32 punters in the league. Additionally, he ranked 30th in punts that were downed inside the 20-yard line. Another concerning statistic is Gill’s high ranking of third in touchbacks, indicating a need for improvement in this area.
A POTENTIAL UPGRADE IN TAYLOR
Despite Gill’s shortcomings, there is speculation that the Bears may consider Taylor as a replacement. Taylor’s skills are highly regarded, and if he falls to the Bears in the upcoming draft, they may seize the opportunity to acquire him. This notion is supported by Biggs, a trusted source in the industry, making Taylor a name to keep an eye on as the draft approaches.