Bears Starter Who Was Replaced Finds New Landing Spot

The Chicago Bears made a selection many fans questioned in this year's NFL draft when they took Iowa punter Tory Taylor in the fourth round. Many fans thought a punter wasn't the most pressing need for the Bears since there was already a punter on the roster in Trenton Gill.

Gill was selected in the seventh round of the 2022 draft and hadn't been the main point of concern on a struggling Bears team. Yet, the Bears still felt a need to draft his replacement.

It was only a few days after the draft on May 1, that the Bears cut Gill solidifying that Taylor was the guy. With Gill out of a job, it was only a matter of time until another team knocked on his door. That team was the Denver Broncos, who signed Gill on Wednesday, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

Bears News: Former Chicago punter Trenton Gill signs with Broncos

Although many fans were shocked that the Bears decided to take Taylor in the fourth round, if you look at Gill's stats over the past two seasons, it isn't as shocking. 

In 2022, Gill only had three touchbacks, 20 punts landed inside the 20, and had a net average of 40.3 yards on 66 punts. Last season, Gill was worse, averaging 38 net yards per punt, had 18 punts land inside the 20, and eight touchbacks on 67 punts. 

Gill ended up giving Bears opponents even shorter fields in 2023 than he did in 2022. While the Bears defense was better in the latter half of last season consistently having to defend a shorter field does not lead to winning football.

While Gill wasn't a great punter for the Bears maybe a change in coaching and scenery is what he needs to fix his punting struggles.

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