Tory Taylor rookie contract figures with Chicago Bears revealed after 2024 NFL Draft
Iowa punter Tory Taylor was selected by the Chicago Bears in the fourth round of the NFL Draft and his contract details were revealed.
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. Of course, the Bears’ draft was highlighted by Caleb Williams going No. 1 overall.
Still, Taylor was an electric punter in college and was seen as a big time special teams weapon in the NFL.
Taylor played four seasons at Iowa, becoming one of the best punters in the country. He won the 2023 Ray Guy award and was a Unanimous All-American last season.
Taylor punted 295 times over the course of four years. He had a total yardage of 13,657 yards with a net average of 46.3 yards per punt.
Taylor might get NFL love in the middle rounds and as a stalwart on special teams for years to come.
As a member of the Class of 2020, Taylor was not ranked, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He played prep football career out of Melbourne (VIC) ProKick Australia.
Kirk Ferentz opens up on Tory Taylor
Following the Citrus Bowl loss to Tennessee, Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz opened up on what Tory Taylor has meant to the Hawkeyes.
Ferentz praised Taylor, not just for his ability as a punter, but for the work ethic he’s put in and the role model he’s become for the younger players within the Iowa program.
“I think I’ve said it many times, first of all, Tory is an exceptional young guy,” Kirk Ferentz said. “Came here, was really naïve to college football. There are not many of them around in our country. Just fans, everybody. Everybody was an expert on football. This guy had no knowledge, so I will never forget that, the first game at Purdue during the pandemic.”
Like many punters around college football, Tory Taylor is Australia-born and a little bit older than most other players at 26 years old.
“He has a strong leg,” Ferentz said. “Obviously, could kick a ball. Punt a ball. But what he has done over four years’ time, the way he has refined his skills, the way he has developed just the repertoire of different ways to punt, it is very impressive. Then, most impressively I think, is the work ethic that he displayed, because you do not do those things by accident. It is true at every position, to truly master what you do, it takes a lot of work. I do not care if you’re 34 years old and still playing, there is always work to do.”