A wide receiver prospect in the 2026 NFL draft who is clearly on the Indianapolis Colts’ radar is receiving some high praise.
Field Yates of ESPN named Louisville’s Chris Bell the “biggest steal” of Day 2 in the NFL draft. The Colts have had Bell in for an official pre-draft visit.
“If not for an ACL tear in late November, we’d be talking about Bell as a Day 1 consideration,” Yates wrote. “He has elite physical traits at 6-foot-2, 222 pounds, with explosive acceleration and power in the open field. Bell’s three-game stretch versus Pitt, Virginia and Miami was arguably as good as any wideout this season; he totaled 31 catches, 341 yards and five touchdowns over that span.”
Prior to his injury, Bell was having a huge season, totaling 72 catches on 106 targets for 917 yards with six touchdowns. Bell was particularly good with the ball in his hands, averaging 5.2 yards after the catch. He ranked 22nd among wideouts in yards per route run — an efficiency metric from PFF.
Most of his snaps came lined up outside. Over the last three seasons, Bell has had 144 receptions. He was a first-team All-ACC selection in 2025.
Nick Westbrook-Ikhine and Ashton Dulin are the likely frontrunners competing for that playing time alongside Alec Pierce and Josh Downs, but another addition at this position to boost competition and hopefully raise the floor of this unit should still be on Chris Ballard’s radar.
This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: WR draft prospect linked to Colts named ‘biggest steal’ of Day 2
Reporting by Paul Bretl, Colts Wire / Colts Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
