Steve Bradshaw specializes in covering the NFL Draft, NFL, and Fantasy Football for TWSN. Notably, Bradshaw has been able to cover the NFL Combine with media credentials for TWSN.
Outside of football, Bradshaw also has experience writing about the MLB & NBA.
Back on April 3rd, we came out with a New Orleans Saints mock draft that went through the first four rounds of the 2026 NFL draft. One of the most exciting picks in this mock draft came in round two, when we had New Orleans landing a wide receiver.
Below, we’ll break down this selection and player in a bit more detail.
In that mock draft, things kicked off by going with Mansoor Delane at 10, who was arguably the best player on the board. After going defense in round one, pivoting to offense makes a ton of sense given the number of needs on this roster.
With pick No. 42, Chris Bell, the wide receiver out of Louisville, was the selection for the Saints.
TWSN Key Facts:
• Team: New Orleans Saints
• 2025 Record: 6-11
• 2026 NFL Draft Picks (Days 1 & 2): 8, 42 & 73
Does Chris Bell Fit With the New Orleans Saints?
With how the Saints’ roster is constructed right now, they have a ton of needs. Wide receiver just happens to be one of them, but it’s also a premium position. With that being the case, it’s something teams want to invest in early on during the draft.
To go a bit further than this, we dove into why the Saints need wide receiver help in that initial TWSN mock draft:
“After trading away Rashid Shaheed last year, it’s tough to believe the Saints won’t draft a wide receiver early in the NFL draft. As mentioned above, Shough has the potential to be a great quarterback, but in order to properly evaluate him, he needs some help.”
Now, despite any upgrades the Saints may make in the NFL draft, it’s tough to view them as a legitimate contender. For that reason, they’re also in a spot where despite Bell having torn his ACL this past year, he makes sense for this roster.
Bell runs the risk of not having the same year-one production as a few of these players ranked around him, but the long-term upside is worth it.
In terms of where Bell would fit with the Saints receiver corps, he has the size to be an outside receiver in the NFL at 6’2”, 222 lbs. This past year, Bell played 320 snaps out wide compared to just 55 in the slot (per PFF).
At the same time, I have questions about Bell as a route runner right now. At the very least, Bell could be a dominant big slot in the NFL because, despite being a bigger receiver, he has great speed.
Should the New Orleans Saints Draft Chris Bell?
Bell is a player who’s been getting extremely overlooked because of that ACL injury. However, in that same ESPN article linked above, here’s what it had to say about his draft stock back on December 10th:
“In NFL draft analyst Field Yates’ most recent mock draft for ESPN, Bell is projected to go to the Denver Broncos with the 32nd and final pick of the first round.”
The inconsistency is apparent on Bell’s film, but he has a size and speed combination you can’t teach. Not only that, but there are plenty of plays that give you a glimpse of hope of what Bell could be at the NFL level.
For that reason, Bell makes a ton of sense for the New Orleans Saints, and they’re one of the teams that should take advantage of that injury discount.
Frequently Asked Questions
Chris Bell Age?
Chris Bell is 22 years old.
Chris Bell Stats?
Bell had 72 receptions for 917 yards and six touchdowns in 2025.
Chris Bell College?
Bell played at Louisville from 2022 to 2025.
New Orleans Saints Round 1 Pick?
The New Orleans Saints have pick No. 10 in the 2026 NFL draft.
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Steve Bradshaw specializes in covering the NFL Draft, NFL, and Fantasy Football for TWSN. Notably, Bradshaw has been able to cover the NFL Combine with media credentials for TWSN.
Outside of football, Bradshaw also has experience writing about the MLB & NBA.