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By Rowan Fisher-Shotton
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The Buffalo Bills came into the 2026 NFL Draft with a clear need at wide receiver.
Despite having Josh Allen, arguably the best quarterback in football, the offense has lacked consistent explosiveness outside the numbers, a gap that’s shown up in critical moments over the past few seasons.
By the end of Day 3, they may have found a high-upside answer, selecting Skyler Bell in the fourth round (No. 125 overall), a pick that’s suddenly getting a lot more attention.
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Shortly after the selection, a resurfaced clip of The Athletic’s Dave Helman began circulating on social media, drawing a bold comparison between Bell and Cincinnati Bengals star wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase.
“This is probably the most reckless thing I’ll say on this show. This is Ja’Marr Chase lite,” Helman said. “He’s a freak athlete. He’s explosive, but he’s very powerful and strong … I doubt he’s going to be an All-Pro as a rookie, but he does all that same type of stuff.”
“If I was trying to get Ja’Marr Chase’s skill set late Day 2 or even into Day 3, I’m all the way in on this guy,” he added.
Even with the “lite” qualifier, Helman’s bold comparison has shifted the conversation from “solid value pick” to “potential steal with star traits.”
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Bell began his college career at Wisconsin, where he posted just 69 receptions for 755 yards and six touchdowns across three seasons.
The breakout came after transferring to UConn.
In 2024, Bell flashed with 860 yards and five touchdowns on 50 receptions, but his 2025 season turned him into one of the most productive receivers in the country, totaling 101 receptions for 1,278 yards and 13 touchdowns.
He finished top-three nationally in all three categories and led the FBS with seven 100-yard games, earning him consensus All-American honors and a finalist spot for the Biletnikoff Award.
At around 5’11”, 192 pounds, Bell doesn’t overwhelm with size, but his athletic testing tells a different story.
At the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine, he posted a 4.4-second 40-yard dash, a 41-inch vertical, and an 11’1” broad jump, finishing with an 85 Athleticism Score, good for sixth among all wide receiver prospects.
That explosiveness shows up on tape. Bell wins in three key ways that echo elements of Ja'Marr Chase’s game:
- Run-after-catch violence - Bell forces missed tackles and consistently turns short throws into chunk plays. He had 26 forced missed tackles over the last two seasons.
- Ball skills and body control - Despite not being a towering receiver, he plays bigger at the catch point, high-pointing and shielding defenders.
- Versatility in alignment - He lined up both outside and in the slot, giving offenses flexibility in how to deploy him.
The gap (and it’s a real one) is competition level and physical dominance.
Chase did it in the SEC against elite corners. Bell did it at UConn, which contributed to his slide into Day 3.
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Buffalo’s receiver room lacked a true game-breaking presence last season. Their top receiver Khalil Shakir didn’t even crack 750 yards.
With Shakir still on the roster and the Bills having just added D.J. Moore in the offseason, Bell doesn’t need to walk in as WR1 to justify the pick.
What the Bills need is someone who can create yards after the catch, win on crossers and intermediate routes, and stretch defenses horizontally and vertically.
Bell checks those boxes.
For Buffalo, this is a low-risk, high-upside bet on traits and production. For Bell, it’s a perfect landing spot, paired with an elite quarterback and a system that can highlight his strengths.
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