(Photo: © Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images, 247Sports)
Less than one month remains until the Chicago Bears report to training camp in what is expected to be the most anticipated season in recent memory for the franchise. After an offseason of changes and adding talent to the roster, punter is one position that saw no turnover at all.
When the franchise opted to use a fourth-round pick on a punter in the 2024 NFL Draft, many were puzzled simply due to the value of the position, leading to a bevy of questions about what Ryan Poles draft strategy really was.
Fast forward to the regular season, and as the Bears endured a losing streak and inconsistent play on both offense and defense, special teams seemed to be the only consistent unit on the field. More specifically, Tory Taylor was a bright spot in an otherwise dark season.
When the Bears drafted Taylor last year with the 122nd overall selection, for Poles, picking a punter so high was simply about giving the offense and defense an advantage in terms of field position.
"Really excited about Tory," said Poles. "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."
As the 2025 season officially becomes the focus for Taylor, he has a tall task of living up to his 2024 season. The good news is that head coach Ben Johnson opted to retain special teams coordinator Richard Hightower so there is continuity for Taylor in the context of building momentum to develop into one of the game's best punters.
With year two officially here for Taylor, let's get into whether or not he'll take a jump forward during his sophomore season.
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