Should the Saints select Chris Bell in the NFL Draft?
The New Orleans Saints are in the market for a wide receiver during the 2026 NFL Draft. One of the premier receivers of the class is Louisville’s Chris Bell. His burst after the catch and explosiveness would make him a perfect prospect in the Saints offense. Despite this, he’s a prospect they should stay away from in April.
Bell had 72 receptions for 917 yards and six touchdowns in 2025. He broke out onto the national scene with an impressive 136 yards and two touchdowns in Louisville’s upset win. He was trending towards being a first-round pick before tearing his ACL in the Cardinals' final regular-season game. Now, he’s expected to miss a majority of his rookie season, and his stock has fallen to somewhere on day two.
Chris Bell is a perfect fit in the Saints offense
Bell would fit seamlessly into the Saints offense. Currently there is a major void of explosiveness after the catch in their receiver room, which he would fill. Rashid Shaheed was the only player to fill that role, but it was left vacant when he was shipped off midseason. He’s a perfect complementary to Chris Olave and would give the Saints another dimension.
Bell is an outstanding athlete who thrives with the ball in space. He’s got a bowling ball frame at 6-foot-2, 220 pounds, and uses his physicality to consistently break arm tackles. Additionally, he has elite vertical speed, including an extra gear he turns to while in foot races. He constantly falls forward and fights for every yard.
Bell specializes after the catch, but can create separation as a route runner. He can still improve his consistency with this, but has shown flashes. He has a great change of direction, which allows him to cut without losing speed. Bell has reliable hands and rarely lets a ball hit the ground.
Why the Saints won’t draft Chris Bell (probably)
The Saints main priority this offseason should be to give Tyler Shough as many playmakers as possible. This second season is crucial for his evaluation, so they can’t give him any excuses. The front office needs to know if he’s their quarterback of the future or if they need to draft one.
Because of this, Bell doesn’t fit the Saints timeline. Him not being able to play in 2025 is a huge issue for what the team needs. He will probably become an amazing player in the NFL, but it likely won’t be in New Orleans.
The only situation the Saints could draft Chris Bell
There is a scenario in which the Saints draft Bell. First off, he would likely have to drop to the Saints third round pick. It’s highly unlikely Mickey Loomis would spend a second on Bell with his injury history, but a third makes a lot more sense.
Secondly and most importantly, Shough needs to be begging the front office for him, which isn’t unlikely. He and Bell teamed up in 2024 at Louisville, and both had a great season, with Bell having 737 yards and four touchdowns.
Shough would have to be very convincing, but this is likely the only situation where the Saints would select Bell. He’s an amazing prospect, so this would be an amazing scenario for fans, but would be risky for the front office. Only time will tell if they are willing to pull the trigger.