Round 3, Pick #94 Miami Selects WR, Chris Bell, WR

• Big, boundary target with an NFL frame.
• Stair-stepped production in each season he played.
• Battles back against handsy coverage at the top of the route.
• Speed-builder capable of turning crossers into long gains.
• Squares his numbers to quarterback on in-breaking routes.
• Makes athletic adjustments to throws on his back hip.
• Resilient post-catch and difficult to bring down on the move.

Weaknesses

CHRISTOPHER BELL

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LOUISVILLE

THE SKINNY: One of the most polarising prospects in the draft for me, Bell had an outstanding 2025 and

delivered some big plays in big moments, notably against Miami where he had a monster game and was key to

the Cardinal’s upset of the Canes. But the more I dug into his tape, the more concerned I became and I do think

there’ll be some transition issues as he moves into the NFL, especially when it comes to route running, and I see

some of the same issues I saw with Panthers WR Xavier Legette when he came out. There are also some off the

field question marks, and obviously his recovery from a torn ACL he suffered at the end of November. A state

title winner in HS, he was a high level track athlete, recording a 22.50 in the 200m. He initially committed to

Southern Miss before flipping to Louisville over Mississippi State, Mississippi, Maryland, Baylor and Florida State.

The last three seasons – all as a starter – have seen him catch 29, 43 and 72 balls respectively as he’s become

more and more of a threat. And whilst I have those concerns, there are also plenty of big plusses: he’s super

imposing physically and you rarely see guys with his size have his movements skills, twitch, vertical speed, or

ability after the catch, and to that end there are some AJ Brown vibes in what he brings to the table. But I think

he has inconsistent get off and he really doesn’t possess any sort of release package game. Where he does win

is up that vertical plane and he has the instant speed to eat up the cushion and get up on the shoulder so

quickly. But in five games I rarely saw him run any conventional NFL routes and nothing much consistently

resembling a full route tree. The reality is that he really only runs 1, 2 and 9 routes and there are times in games

where literally all he does is run a drag route to different yardages. Because he lacks any sort of patience or

tempo or nuance, he then finds it difficult when asked to run pro routes to disengage, especially when pressed.

He certainly can defeat press with his physicality – I love how he jackhammer-punches hands away – but he has

to be careful not to draw penalties: Against JMU in 2025 he scores a long TD but takes three steps and then

shoves the CB out of the way to create separation before making the catch. I’d also love to see him press the

toes of the corner more because in off-man he breaks with so much distance between him and his opponent,

never forcing them to commit, then allowing them a clean runway to drive on the ball and him. Bell is tough, he’s

unafraid to work the middle and he can survive contact and pick ups extra yards. With the ball in his hands he’s

explosive with electric open field speed and is one of the best run after catch threats in the draft. However, I

don’t think he’s a natural hands catcher and there are a few double clutches on his tape. I’d also like to see him

use his physicality way more in the run game. Teams will like how he can be alignment versatile and although he

has outside size, he can be worked into the formation from all over. Off the field there have been significant

maturity issues especially as it pertains to controlling him emotions and coaches say he can still get mad if

someone hits him the wrong way, or he blows up at CB’s in practice if they make a play. As one coach said, “his

road has been, and will continue to be, paved by maturity.” Bell himself admits that he’s been working on

maturing: “It’s just about controlling my mentality, controlling my emotions and stuff.” In 2024 against Notre

Dame it was alleged by CB Jordan Clark that Bell punched him in the face and then spat on him. A good

barometer for me is what receivers do when their number isn’t called or if the play goes in the opposite

direction. Unfortunately Bell really lacks the effort and interest when it comes to those plays. Of course that may

just be part of his ever evolving maturity issues, but it won’t play well with teams. He tore his labrum in 2023 and

missed a game in 2025 with an unspecified injury. There is an awful lot of upside but sometimes players have to

be more than just the sum of their parts. I think with his size and speed combo there will be a day two market

for him. But he could be one of the players who falls just a little when you consider everything.

SIZE: 6017, 222

CLASS: Senior

RAS: N/A due to injury

The Ringer Draft Profile

The Player

Bell is a physically gifted, big-play receiver whose traits and flashes of production contrast sharply with his rawness and inconsistency, making him a true boom-or-bust prospect. A four-year player at Louisville, he showed steady statistical growth, culminating in 917 yards in just 11 games in 2025 before a late-season ACL tear (which clouds his availability for the start of his rookie year).

At his best, Bell looks the part: He’s got a strong build, big hands, impressive body control, and real run-after-the-catch explosiveness with a noticeable second gear. He catches cleanly and transitions smoothly upfield, showing strength through contact and the ability to create chunk plays. His hands improved in 2025 (just three drops), though his contested-catch success (50 percent) doesn’t fully match his physical profile.

The concerns are significant. Despite four years of experience, he remains highly unpolished—Louisville’s route tree was limited, and his execution was often rigid and telegraphed, with little separation generated out of breaks. His attention to detail and willingness to handle the finer points of the position, including blocking, are inconsistent. Production volatility adds another layer of uncertainty: He dominated some top opponents but faded late in the season, raising questions about consistency and usage.

The Draft

Bell is a top-40 talent physically, with some legit shades of A.J. Brown. Similar to Brown coming out of college, Bell is an unrefined route runner, and some of his tape shows underwhelming attention to detail and blocking. But the biggest reason he could slide to late Round 2 or early Round 3 is the torn ACL he’s still recovering from.

The Projection

Bell might not be ready for the start of 2026, making him a difficult rookie projection. But when fully healthy, he is too strong and explosive—both after the catch and vertically outside the numbers—to keep off the field. He’s a high-risk, high-reward prospect with the ability to develop into a strong no. 2 option if he lands in the right system and is properly motivated to cultivate his tools.