The Bears 2024 Draft Thread

[DJ]

A punter in the 4th?

 

[Jiddy]

A punter in the 4th?

Don't be talkin' sh*t about Mega Punt. Super Bowl is on the table now.

 

[Lake Shore Drive]

A punter in the 4th?

Hey, as Rich Eisen just said, a punter is a weapon!!!!

 

[Lake Shore Drive]

BTW, is this guy the 2024 version of the Punt God? If he is, let's hope it's sans any sexual assault allegations.

 

[DJ]

Hey, as Rich Eisen just said, a punter is a weapon!!!!

Was that your last pick?

 

[DJ]

BTW, is this guy the 2024 version of the Punt God? If he is, let's hope it's sans any sexual assault allegations.

He was cleared of all charges and signed with.....










Wait for it......



















The Kansas City Chiefs.

 

[Lake Shore Drive]

He was cleared of all charges and signed with.....










Wait for it......



















The Kansas City Chiefs.

As usual, the rich get richer.

 

[Lake Shore Drive]

Oh well, heading off to the gym. When I get back I'll do some research and check out a ton of analysts feedback before assigning a grade for our final pick. But taking a punter with that last pick......things that make you go hmmmmmm

 

[Jiddy]

Was that your last pick?

Yes

 

[DJ]

As usual, the rich get richer.

I don't know anything about that.

Still waiting to win the Powerball or mega millions.

 

[BeaReylo]

 

[BearsWillWin]

Why is everyone passing on this TJ Tampa guy?

Because his name is TJ Tampa.

Sounds like a pimp from an 80s cop show.

 

[Lake Shore Drive]

I don't know anything about that.

Still waiting to win the Powerball or mega millions.

Me too, but in this case I was referring to the NFL rich, as in two consecutive time SB winning Chiefs, who managed to snag Worthy in the 1st round and now you telling me they also signed the Punt God.

 

[Lake Shore Drive]

Wow, I had no idea the Bears traded a '25 4th round pick to the Bills for their 5th round, and Poles used it to take DE/Edge Austin Booker. At initial glance it seems like a good pick. NFL.com has him rated as a potential starter, seems definitely worth when he was selected.

Here's the early skinny on him:

Booker played in all 12 games and started in one for the (Kansas) Jayhawks last season. The 6-6, 245-pounder totaled 56 tackles, 12 tackles-for-loss, eight sacks and two forced fumbles in those contests. His 8.0 sacks were the most by a Jayhawk in a single season since 2016 (Dorance Armstrong Jr.).

Not bad, not bad at all.

 

[Lake Shore Drive]

And back to punter Tory Taylor, here's a quick skinny on this kid as well:

Last year the 6-4, 223-pound native Australian won the Ray Guy Award as the nation's best punter and was named First-Team All-American after averaging 48.2 yards on 93 punts, placing 32 inside-the-20 with seven touchbacks.
Taylor grew up in Melbourne, Australia, and is 26 years old. He is the first specialist taken in the draft and is the highest drafted punter since Mitch Wishnowsky was taken 110th overall by the 49ers in 2019.

It will take some convincing to agree with using a valuable 4th rd pick on a punter, especially when we only had four picks total at that point. But TBH I've always felt this position never gets the respect it deserves, considering how important a well placed punt helps a team, or conversely how a poor punt does virtually the opposite. A good punter matters.

 

[NCChiFan]

I'm hearing good things about this Punter... Hard to believe I'm saying this, im hearing the kid is a "plug and play" starter day 1.

 

[Lake Shore Drive]

I'm hearing good things about this Punter... Hard to believe I'm saying this, im hearing the kid is a "plug and play" starter day 1.

I don't see how it could be anything but. The moment we drafted him, I said farewell to Trenton Gill.

 

[BsGenius]

And back to punter Tory Taylor, here's a quick skinny on this kid as well:

Last year the 6-4, 223-pound native Australian won the Ray Guy Award as the nation's best punter and was named First-Team All-American after averaging 48.2 yards on 93 punts, placing 32 inside-the-20 with seven touchbacks.
Taylor grew up in Melbourne, Australia, and is 26 years old. He is the first specialist taken in the draft and is the highest drafted punter since Mitch Wishnowsky was taken 110th overall by the 49ers in 2019.

It will take some convincing to agree with using a valuable 4th rd pick on a punter, especially when we only had four picks total at that point. But TBH I've always felt this position never gets the respect it deserves, considering how important a well placed punt helps a team, or conversely how a poor punt does virtually the opposite. A good punter matters.

lmao. Now i've heard everything. "a good punter matters", thank you captain obvious.

 

[NCChiFan]

So, trade to grab Booker. I've seen him rated higher in the draft. 21 year old development project, a bit on the light side weight wise, but high ceiling.

 

[Lake Shore Drive]

So, trade to grab Booker. I've seen him rated higher in the draft. 21 year old development project, a bit on the light side weight wise, but high ceiling.

He seems like there's room to add 10-15 lbs to that frame. And as I mentioned earlier, he has some 3rd round grades from several of these sdraft sites. At worst he'll serve on STs and pop in on 3rd-n-long situations. This was a solid pick for Poles.