Broncos are rumored to view WR Chris Bell as a potential first round option

The NFL Combine is when the rumor mill gets going, and we have one connecting the Denver Broncos to an intriguing wide receiver recovering from a knee injury.

According to draft insider Tony Pauline, the Denver Broncos are among the teams targeting Louisville wide receiver Chris Bell at the back end of the first round of the NFL Draft. Bell is a talented wide receiver who likely would have been in the first round conversation regardless, but a late-season ACL injury is expected to keep him sidelined until the start of training camp.

Pauline notes that the Broncos, along with the 49ers, view Bell as a potential late first-round target despite him currently rehabbing an ACL injury he suffered late in the year.

The recent word here at the combine is that Bell is back in the conversation as a potential late first-round pick. 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 fits the mold of a Sean Payton-type wide receiver. He comes in at 6-2, 220 pounds, is a big physical wide receiver, and has excellent long speed, which he uses to break off long gains. He was on track to be a first-round wide receiver, but unfortunately, a late-season ACL tear has hurt his stock a little bit. However, reports are that his rehab is going well and that he will be ready to go by the start of training camp.

NFL.com’s draft analyst Lance Zierlein calls Bell a big and physical target who has impressive build-up speed and has room to improve his game.

Possession receiver coming off of his most productive year and a late-season ACL tear. Bell’s scores frequently came as a move target across the hashes, where he was able to use impressive build-up speed to eliminate angles and outrun everyone in the secondary to the paint. He’s average at eluding press and separating from tight man underneath. Improving his catch focus and positioning when contested will be critical. Bell lacks dynamic qualities and his ACL tear could impact his draft slotting, but he’s a big, physical target with room to improve. He has a chance to become an average WR2/3 in time.

Wide receiver is an interesting need for the Broncos. They have veteran Courtland Sutton and three receivers, all of whom they drafted and are currently on rookie contracts behind him. While all three of them, Marvin Mims, Troy Franklin, and Pat Bryant, have flashed at times, neither has stepped up to be a consistent WR2 behind Sutton. On top of that, Courtland Sutton turns 31 years old this season, so the Broncos need to have an eye towards the future at this position.

Personally, I am a big Chris Bell fan and was disappointed to learn of his ACL injury. He reminds me of AJ Brown with maybe a little more juice to his game, and I hoped the Broncos could get him in the 2nd round due to his injury. However, with these rumors, it seems like teams are targeting him as a potential late first-round pick. Either way, I wouldn’t be upset, especially if the medicals come back clean.

Keep in mind, this is just a rumor, and we all know the Broncos under Sean Payton have not let much slip, but it’s an interesting one nonetheless.