Dolphins land steal of Day 2 with Louisville WR Chris Bell

The Miami Dolphins selected Louisville Cardinals wide receiver Chris Bell on Day 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft with the No. 94 overall pick in the third round Friday night. The move followed Miami’s earlier selection of Texas Tech receiver Caleb Douglas in the same round.

Bell, a 21-year-old and former three-star recruit out of Greenville Christian School in Mississippi, built a clockwork-consistent and statistically dense four-year career at Louisville. Appearing in 47 games, he recorded 151 receptions for 2,166 yards and 12 touchdowns, finishing 12th in program history in catches and 13th in receiving yards. His 14.3 yards per reception ranks ninth among Cardinals players with at least 100 catches.

His senior season was his most impactful. Bell started 11 games, finishing with 72 receptions for 917 yards and six touchdowns, all team highs, while averaging 83.4 yards per game, the second-best in the ACC and 15th nationally. He also averaged just over 12 yards per catch that season. His performance earned him First-Team All-ACC honors and semifinalist recognition for the Biletnikoff Award.

Bell’s collegiate trajectory showed consistent growth. After amassing just seven catches for 105 yards as a freshman, he improved to 29 receptions for 407 yards and two scores as a sophomore, then 43 catches for 737 yards and four touchdowns as a junior. His development made him one of the ACC’s top receivers in 2025.

However, Bell’s final season was cut short by a torn ACL suffered on Nov. 22, sidelining him for Louisville’s final two games. The injury likely impacted his draft stock despite his production and accolades.

At 6-foot-2 and roughly 220 pounds, Bell brings size and physicality, excelling in contested catches and red-zone situations. He also contributed on kick returns during his college career. At the NFL Combine, he achieved a 6.24 rating, ranking 14th among wide receivers.

Bell joins a Dolphins roster undergoing transition at wide receiver following the departures of Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill, and will look to contribute alongside quarterback Quinn Ewers as Miami continues its rebuild.

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