The Indianapolis Colts had one of the most shocking falls from grace in recent memory. From an 8-2 juggernaut that looked like it could be a legitimate contender in the AFC, an injury to Daniel Jones completely derailed their path, as they ended up missing the playoffs outright.
Going into next season with a healthy quarterback, they’ll be hoping to get back on track in 2026. Jones is likely to come back, but the offense will go through a few changes. As a result, one analyst wants them to add a top-flight talent at the wide receiver position to bolster the offense.
Louisville WR Chris Bell Could Bolster Colts
The belief was palpable from the Colts midway through the season. Piling up wins in a hurry, they made the quick-trigger move to trade two first-round picks for a cornerback in Sauce Gardner.
Unfortunately, Jones went down with a torn Achilles tendon almost immediately after, leading the season to go off track. Now, they have to hope he can regain the form that had him ranked number five on PFSN’s QB Impact.
However, the former New York Giants superstar is going to need help around him. Jonathan Taylor might be as close to a surefire bet at the running back position as there is in the NFL. But the passing game needs more juice.
As part of the trade for Gardner, Indianapolis already gave up Adonai Mitchell. Now, as Alec Pierce is a flight risk as an unrestricted free agent, the wide receiver corps isn’t an outright strength for them anymore.
As a result, Cameron Sheath is trying to make up for the loss in his latest mock draft for 2026. Without a first-round pick at their disposal, the Colts cannot add a bluechip prospect to the roster.
Instead, they have to depend on hitting on the right guy later on in the draft. According to Sheath, the player is Chris Bell out of Louisville, whom they are drafting with the 53rd overall pick.
“Chris Bell isn’t a like-for-like replacement for either, but possesses the frame and speed to win downfield. On tape, Bell becomes a different animal after the catch, with outlandish acceleration to pull away from chasing defenders, making him a home-run threat on every play.”
His final year with the Cardinals saw him put up 917 receiving yards and six receiving touchdowns to bring his collegiate totals to over 2,000 yards through the air and 12 touchdowns.
While he isn’t a complete guarantee at the wide receiver spot in this draft class, he has enough upside that the Colts could look to invest a second-round pick on him to ensure that Jones has a smoother return to the field upon his recovery.
