UConn wide receiver Skyler Bell became one of the top pass catchers in the Group of Five during the 2025 season. With the 2026 NFL Draft just weeks away, his draft stock is gradually climbing as he draws comparisons to some of the league’s elite talents.
Bell’s production backs up the optimism. He ranked as the sixth-best receiver with a strong 85.0 impact score in the PFSN College Football Wide Receiver Impact Metric. That recognition followed a magnificent 2025 season at UConn, where he led the team with 101 receptions, 1,278 receiving yards, and 13 touchdown catches.
Skyler Bell’s NFL Future Brightens With Ja’Marr Chase Comparison
Dave Helman of “The Athletic Football Show” shared his strong belief in Bell’s potential ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft. Helman even drew a comparison to Ja’Marr Chase, who secured a four-year, $161 million extension with the Cincinnati Bengals in March 2025.
“This is Ja’Marr Chase lite,” Helman said of Bell. “He’s a freak athlete. He’s explosive, but he’s very powerful and strong. Watching him, I was just like, obviously, he’s not Ja’Marr Chase. He’s not going to be a top-10 pick. I doubt he’s going to be an All-Pro caliber player as a rookie, but he does all that same type of stuff, like he can take it to the house.
“He can just body people out of the way. He can high point the ball. I was just like, man, if I were trying to get Ja’Marr Chase’s skill set late day two or even into day three, I’m all the way in on this guy.”
Bell’s consistent performance earned him national recognition, including being named a finalist for the 2025 Biletnikoff Award alongside Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith and USC’s Makai Lemon. He also received an invitation to the Senior Bowl. Bell had already shown flashes of his ability in 2024 with 50 receptions for 860 yards and five touchdowns.
Evaluators view Bell as one of the most polished and complete wide receivers entering the draft. His PFSN report summary highlights his potential:
“The 6’0″, 192-pound pass catcher has one of the most complete three-level threat frameworks in the 2026 class. He’s explosive and energized as a mover, with a full route tree, vertical splicing, steely ball tracking, and dynamic RAC chops. Focus drops were an issue in 2024, but he’s even cleaned that up, making his profile one of the most well-rounded in the upcoming group. He’ll be an older rookie, but he compensates by posing as an immediate starter with inside-outside versatility.”
Bell also proved at the NFL Combine that he has the speed to match his skill set. He ran a 4.40-second 40-yard dash and a 1.53-second 10-yard split.
