One of the biggest criticisms of the Chicago Bears 2024 NFL Draft Class was the fact that the team selected a punter in the fourth round.
While those critical of the Bears' roster construction can point to the struggles of the offensive line as a reason why the team should have used the fourth-round selection on another offensive lineman, Taylor proved this past Sunday why his selection was important.
Last season, the Bears lost the battle of field position numerous times due to Trenton Gill's inability to flip the field. That was not the case for the Bears in their victory over the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, as not only were they able to flip the field because of Taylor's skill, but they were also able to control the game defensively.
Given the effort that Taylor had on Sunday, it's no surprise to see that he was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for Week 4.
An absolute weapon 😤
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) October 2, 2024
Tory Taylor has been the Chicago Bears' best rookie this season.
No offense to Caleb Williams, but Taylor has been the best rookie from the Bears' 2024 draft class. Given the slow start to the season for Williams and the Bears' offense, Taylor's ability to flip the field with relative ease has become a pivotal piece of the team's success this season. In fact, we've already made the case that Taylor should be considered for Defensive Rookie of the Year.
At the very least, Taylor eliminates one need for the Bears moving forward. The Bears not only have their punter for the foreseeable future but may have one of the best punters in the NFL already. Given that fact, shame on Pro Football Focus for snubbing Taylor on their first-quarter All-Pro team for the 2024 season.