Over the weekend, some interest has been shown in drafting the wide receiver from Louisville, Chris Bell, a former teammate of Tyler Shough. The connection between Shough and Bell could be electric, but the dilemma is whether he is worth an early draft pick.
Right now, Bell is recovering from a torn ACL, which has prevented him from participating in the NFL Combine. However, during an interview with the press, Bell explained rehab has been going well and stated that he will be able to start running next.
He is projected to be in healthy condition for training camp and said he’s been in contact with Shough through the offseason, telling reporters he hopes they will play together once again.
As he looks to have another chance to play on the field, Bell might go under the radar during draft night based on the chance of teams wanting to put trust in an injured player.
If his explosiveness is the same as it was in college after his recovery, Bell could be a hidden gem the Saints are looking for in having weapons for Shough’s disposal.
Before his injury, Bell’s most impressive performance last season with the Cardinals was during the upset against Miami after he finished the game on the road with nine receptions, 136 yards and two touchdowns.
He finished his final year at Louisville with 72 receptions, right under a thousand-yard season with 917 receiving yards and six touchdowns, while averaging 12 yards a catch.
Before he suffered his injury versus SMU, the 2025 season was his best performance throughout his college career. During Tyler Shough’s final season at Louisville, Chris Bell had his second-best performance with 43 receptions for 717 receiving yards, averaging 17.1 yards per catch and 4 touchdowns.
Bell draft stock might be low, but it’s safe to say he would be a good addition in the second or third round based on his college statistics and connection with Shough.
