5 things to know about new Dolphins receiver Chris Bell

The Miami Dolphins took Louisville wide receiver Chris Bell pick No. 94 overall in the third round of the 2026 NFL draft. This was a steal for the Dolphins, as his draft stock had dipped after suffering an ACL tear in November of 2025.

Now Miami welcomes the big-time playmaker, hoping he can be a consistent NFL wide receiver. Here are five things to know about the Louisville star before he sees his first practice action with the team.

Size

Listed at 6-foot-2 and 222 pounds, Bell has that running-back style build, but was a serious threat at Louisville. His after-the-catch ability is reminiscent of former San Francisco 49ers and Washington Commanders wide receiver Deebo Samuel.

Production

In his four years in college, Bell recorded 151 receptions, 2166 yards and 12 touchdowns. In just 11 games this past season, Bell recorded 917 receiving yards with six touchdowns. That’s a productive 83 yards per game.

Awards

This past season, Bell earned first-team All-ACC honors and was a semifinalist for the Biletnikoff Award. If he was able to play the full season, Bell was on pace to be a favorite to win it.

Potential

Bell has shown flashes of being a game-changing wide receiver, especially in his biggest game against the Miami Hurricanes, where he went off for 166 yards and two touchdowns. The Hurricanes were regarded as one of the best defenses this past season, showing how impressive Bell’s performance was.

Background

After transferring from Yahoo City High School, Bell joined Greenville Christian, where he would lead the team to a state championship his senior year. He committed to Louisville as a three-star recruit and spent his entire collegiate career there.

Every year, Bell gets better, showing he is still improving and growing as a player. He’s looking to be a starting receiver in the NFL, and the Dolphins need just that. Some analysts believe he will be a WR2-3 in the league, but he clearly has WR1 potential given his size, speed, production and natural abilities.

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This article originally appeared on Dolphins Wire: NFL draft: 5 things to know about new Dolphins receiver Chris Bell

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