CHICAGO (WLS) — The Chicago Bears were back on the clock at the NFL Draft Saturday, selecting the top punter in the draft and a defensive edge rusher.
The Monsters of the Midway got Tory Taylor from Iowa with their fourth-round pick. The team then traded to get a firth-round pick to take Austin Booker from Kansas.
Taylor is from Australia. The 6’4″ 225 pound punter averaged 40 or more yards a punt in 43 career games, setting the NCAA record, on his way to winning the Ray Guy Sward, as the nation’s top punter.
The Bears’ new star quarterback, No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams, welcomed the punter to the team Saturday via social media.
You’ve gotta have faith that when you put a bunch of those people together, it can be special.
Ryan Poles, Chicago Bears GM
The Bears sent a 2025 fourth-round pick to the Buffalo Bills in order to draft Booker with the Bills’ 2024 fifth-round pick. The Kansas defensive lineman had 58 tackles and a team-high eight sacks in his one season with the Jay Hawks after transferring from Missouri.
Bears GM Ryan Poles didn’t wait for the draft to finish to address the media. He spoke during the sixth round, because his work was done to complete the team’s 2024 draft class.
“You’ve gotta have faith that when you put a bunch of those people together, it can be special,” Poles said. “So I’m just proud of the people we’ve brought in, on top of the talent as well.”
And with that, the Bears 2024 class is complete, anchored by Caleb Williams, Rome Odunze, Hinsdale’s Kiran Amegadjie, then Taylor and Booker. The athletes bring talent to their positions and qualities the Bears want on and off the field.
The Bears’ last picks of the draft come after they selected quarterback Caleb Williams first overall and wide receiver Rome Odunze ninth overall on Thursday.
On Friday, the team used their No. 75 overall pick in the third round to take Yale offensive tackle Kiran Amegadjie. He is a native of Hinsdale, Illinois and went to Hinsdale Central High School. Charles “Peanut” Tillman announced the pick on the stage in Detroit.
The Bears did not have a second-round pick after using the pick in a trade for defensive end Montez Sweat.
“I’d like to see them live up to their potential,” Bears fan Jeff Jackowski said. “This could be the start of something great.”
Fans hope first-overall pick Williams will quickly adjust to the NFL and be ready to lead the Bears to the playoffs in his first season.
“I was pretty excited. I think Caleb is going to be a good asset to the team,” Bears fan Jake Davis said.
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Williams and the Bears’ second pick Rome Odunze already seem to be fast friends, warmly greeting each other after the bears picked the wide receiver with their second pick in the first round. The team introduced the pair at Halas Hall on Friday.
In a draft that was heavy on picking offensive players, Bears fans are celebrating that they got two of the best.
“Did the road to the Super Bowls start last night? I hope so,” Bears fan Linda Ryland said. “I hope Caleb does a good job. I am thrilled.”
Williams Bears jersey flew off the shelves, setting a draft night sales record for all sports, beating the record set just last week by Caitlin Clark.
Other Chicago sports franchises got in on the act as well. The Bulls sent out a message from DeMar DeRozan.
The most recent number one overall pick in the NHL, the Blackhawks’ Connor Bedard, also welcomed Williams to Chicago.
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