The San Francisco 49ers are expected to prioritize wide receiver reinforcements in free agency and the 2026 NFL Draft. The team is widely anticipated to move on from Brandon Aiyuk, while Jauan Jennings, Kendrick Bourne, and Skyy Moore are also set to hit free agency.
Those potential departures could leave the 49ers with a significant lack of experienced depth at wide receiver, making the position one of the team’s top offseason needs.
According to Tony Pauline of Essentially Sports, chatter at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis indicates the 49ers are among the teams interested in Louisville wide receiver Chris Bell.
“The recent word here at the combine is that Bell is back in the conversation as a potential late first-round pick,” Pauline wrote. “The teams that I’m told are targeting Bell in this area are the Denver Broncos and San Francisco 49ers. Both teams make sense, as the Broncos and Niners need receivers, and both have a history of selecting players early in the draft that fit their needs rather than going the route of conventional wisdom.”
Bell carries some risk, as he is recovering from an ACL injury that required surgery, sidelining him during pre-draft workouts.
“At the Senior Bowl, I was told Bell should be able to take part in on-field/non-contact work this June and would be 100 percent soon after that,” Pauline reported, adding that Bell is ahead of schedule and expected to be fully ready for training camp.
Pauline also noted, “I also viewed videos of his recent workouts, which showed no ill effects from the knee injury.”
Louisville WR Chris Bell told teams that if they draft him, they are getting a guy who LOVES football. So much so, when Bell was cut from a team growing up, he joined the band just to be in the football atmosphere. pic.twitter.com/dK8flya6rO
— Haley Schoengart (@HaleyPaige7) February 27, 2026
Bell (6-2, 220) finished his collegiate career with 151 receptions for 2,166 yards and 12 touchdowns, according to Sports Reference. He delivered his most productive season in 2025, recording career highs with 72 receptions for 917 yards and six touchdowns.
According to Pro Football Focus, Bell earned an 83.3 receiving grade in 2025, ranking 20th among all NCAA wide receivers.