Grading every rookie from the Chicago Bears 2022 NFL Draft
By Evan Bruner
Chicago Bears Pick No. 256: Trenton Gill, P
After Pat O’Donnell packed his bags for Green Bay, the Bears had to find a replacement and did so by taking NC State’s Trenton Gill with their final selection in the 2022 draft.
As a seventh-round selection and a punter, Gill did not have the same monumental expectations that other rookies did. Gill did, however, have additional responsibilities beyond punting, as Cairo Santos’ weaker leg had Gill also being used for kickoffs.
Gill’s overall rookie production was pretty mediocre. His 46.0 yards per punt ranked 23rd in the league and was 25th in punts inside the 20 with 20. On kickoffs, Gill had 13 touchbacks on 27 kicks, putting him right below 50%. Advanced stats paint a similar picture. Gill’s 4.20 average hang time on punts ranked 31st in the league, and his net average of 40.9 yards per kick ranked 23rd.
The Bears currently have far too many issues to be concerned about a position like a punter. Still, it would be wise to bring in a UDFA to camp. Gill hasn’t exactly wowed anyone, and there are several players at the college level that could be better.