The Buffalo Bills drafted WR Skyler Bell with their second pick in the fourth round, adding an impactful route runner to a receiving core that continues to be reshaped this offseason.
Player Summary
Blitz Sports Media NFL analyst Ryan Linkletter (@blitzlink_) had this to say about Skyler Bell during the draft process.
“Skyler Bell is a versatile route runner who thrives on creativity and processing speed. His sharp cuts and quick hips generate natural separation across the field. Bell excels at reading defensive coverages and exploiting breakdowns. While not a burner, his agility and technique compensate for average top-end speed. Improving contested-catch consistency will elevate his projection. He profiles as a slot contributor with reliable chain-moving upside.”
Bell’s College Stats
Skyler Bell started his college career in Wisconsin, but after seeing his role drop off significantly following his sophomore season, Bell bet on himself and transferred to Connecticut, a move that has paid off dearly for his career. After emerging as a star his junior year, Bell followed that up with a stellar senior season in which he became a Biletnikoff Award finalist while also breaking the Connecticut school record for receptions, where Bell set it at 101. The following statistics are available via Chad Reuter, NFL Dart Researcher/Analyst with NFL Media since 2011, as linked in Bell’s draft profile below.
- 2021 (Wisconsin): Redshirted. Played in 1 game as a reserve.
- 2022 (Wisconsin): Played in all 13 games with 12 starts (30-444-14.8, 5 TDs receiving; 13-260-12.3 rushing).
- 2023 (Wisconsin): Played in 12 games with 2 starts (38-296-7.8, TD).
- 2024: (Connecticut): Led team with 860 receiving yards (50 receptions, 17.2 per), 5 receiving TDs. Started all 13 games.
- 2025: (Connecticut): First-team Associated Press All-American. Finalist for the Biletnikoff Award (given to the nation’s top WR). Ranked second in the FBS with 1,278 receiving yards and fourth with school-record 101 receptions; tied for third in the FBS with a school-record 13 receiving TDs. Started all 13 games.
NFL Combine
Bell received a 6.31 with a total score of 78, ranking 4th at the combine among receivers in this deep wideout class. Lance Zierlein, NFL Analyst, projected Skyler Bell as a round 3 talent whilst comparing him to Michael Gallup. Now, Gallup may not be the flashiest of comparisons. Still, he was a gritty receiver early in his career who excelled at making contested catches, an aspect that Buffalo values greatly in recent drafts.
Current WR Room
The Bills’ receiving room consists of newly added veteran DJ Moore, who will easily be WR1, Khalil Shakir, who moves back into the WR2 role, which will allow him to thrive, and finally, Keon Coleman, who Joe Brady says they aren’t giving up on Coleman yet.
Bell looks to compete with Keon Coleman for those WR3 reps. Joshua Palmer is another name looking to possibly become the Bills’ WR3 after a lackluster season. Palmer will need an amazing camp to be out of the young guns.
Expectations
Bell is in an interesting position, with Palmer’s rough 2025 campaign and Keon Coleman’s future up in the air, Bell genuinely can carve out a WR3 role in this offense. Hopefully, it’s because Bell is that good rather than Palmer and Coleman once again not living up to expectations.
I envision Bell being WR4/5 to begin the season and slowly working his way up the depth chart following a good camp and preseason, mixed with my expected lack of production from Palmer or Coleman. Buffalo has a bye in week 7, I believe. During this time, Head Coach Joe Brady makes the move and makes Bell the WR3 for the remainder of the season.
So with Bell playing a large role down the stretch, I expect him to finish with 44 receptions, for 601 yards, and 3 TDs.
Recap
Skyler Bell will make noise this season once he takes Palmer/Coleman’s role for himself. Assuming DJ Moore has a bounce-back season, and Shakir adjusts back to being a WR2 quickly, this offense could be rolling down the stretch, also giving Buffalo momentum in the later weeks as they hope to finally secure the number one seed in their first season at the new Highmark Stadium.
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