From now until the 2026 NFL Draft, we will scout and create profiles for as many prospects as possible, examining their strengths, weaknesses, and what they can bring to an NFL franchise. These players could be potential top 10 picks, all the way to Day 3 selections, and priority undrafted free agents. Today, a scouting report on UConn wide receiver Skyler Bell.
#1 SKYLER BELL/ WR, UCONN (RS SENIOR) – 5112, 187 pounds.
East-West Shrine Bowl Measurements
Player Ht/Wt Hand Size Arm Length Wingspan
Skyler Bell 5112/187 N/A N/A N/A
40-Yard Dash 10-Yard Dash Short Shuttle 3-Cone
N/A N/A N/A N/A
Broad Jump Vertical Bench Press
N/A N/A N/A
The Good
— Solid size with big hands
— Aligned inside, outside and in the backfield
— Solid foot quickness at the LOS
— Creates space in different ways vs. man coverage
— Good awareness in zone to find the open area
— Good hands, makes catches in traffic/back shoulder
— Solid after the catch in space
— Good effort as a blocker
The Bad
— Adequate play strength and physicality
— Physical defenders can slow him off the line/bump him within the route
— Play speed overall is adequate
— Takes too long to get into intermediate and deep routes
— Route running lacks consistent crispness
— Didn’t win consistently on deep routes
— Tentative through traffic
— Had drop issues prior to 2025
— Doesn’t break tackles
Stats
— 52 games
— Career: 220 receptions, 2,893 yards, 13.2 YPR, 24 TDs, 15 rushes, 162 yards, 10.8 YPC
— 2025: 101 receptions, 1,278 yards, 12.7 YPR, 13 TDs, 2 rushes for -2 yards
— Played at Wisconsin from 2021-2023
— A 2025 Biletnikoff Award finalist
— 2025 consensus All-American; first ever at UConn
— Senior Bowl and East-West Shrine Bowl invitee
— Led UConn in receptions, yards, and touchdowns
— Topped 100 yards 12 times in his career, seven times in 2025
— 2022 Named to CFB News honorable mention freshman All-American team
— Opted out of the Fenway Bowl after one play
Injury History
— 2025: leg injury vs. Temple
Background
— Birthday: July 5, 2022 (23)
— Three-star recruit from 247Sports
— High school senior season was cancelled by COVID-19
— In high school had 700 total receiving yards as a sophomore and junior with 8 total touchdowns
Tape Breakdown
Skyler Bell is a fifth-year wide receiver of solid height, weight, and arm length with very good hand size. The 2025 consensus All-American played inside and outside as well as running routes (swing, wheel) out of the backfield. He has good athleticism and solid mental processing and produced the most on the short and intermediate levels.
As a receiver, Bell has solid foot quickness and agility to move defenders at the line of scrimmage. He uses stutter and jab steps as well as hesitation to move his defender before using solid acceleration into his route. His use of hands is solid, and Bell looks to bat down the hands of defenders within the route. At the break point he uses a mix of quickness, manipulation, and subtle pushes on the defender at the top of the route to create space on in- and out-breaking routes. Against zone coverage, he is good finding open spaces and giving his quarterback a good target.
Here is an assortment of receptions with some well-run routes.
Bell’s hands are good; he adjusts well around his frame and is capable of making catches in traffic. He displays good sideline awareness and had several back-shoulder catches in the games watched. After the catch he is solid finding space and displays solid acceleration up field.
A couple of tough catches in traffic and contested.
As a blocker, he is willing to get into good position with good pad level and hand placement. He works to stay in position between the ball and the defender.
His play speed overall is adequate; it takes him too long to get into second- and third-level routes. There seems to be more juice in the tank. His acceleration is adequate to run off the corner or win consistently on the deep route. Physical defenders can hinder his release and knock him off his route. He is tentative while working through traffic on the second level. He had drop issues in the past but was better in 2025.
His change of direction is adequate when coming back downhill to create separation. He is adequate in the scramble drill to find open space. He is marginal at breaking tackles with agility or physicality. As a route runner he is inconsistent with some routes being soft and rounded. When blocking, he was called for holding twice in the games watched.
Slow getting into his route either due to physical defenders or rounded-off routes.
His deep route success was less than ideal.
Conclusion
Bell has solid size and big hands and did the majority of his work on the short and intermediate levels. He has solid footwork off the line of scrimmage and can create space at the break point in multiple ways. His hands are good, can make the catch in traffic and makes good adjustments. He is willing blocker and puts in the effort on all levels.
Areas to improve include consistency in his route running, adding play strength to handle physical defenders and working through traffic more cleanly. Adding more yards after the catch, winning on the deep level, and being quicker when changing direction would be helpful too.
Bell was highly productive in 2025 while doing a lot of work on slants, screens, crossers, and back-shoulder throws. My biggest concern is the consistency of his routes. Some were very crisp and quick while many were rounded and seemed to be at less-than-full speed. Additionally, he took a long time to get into his routes on the intermediate and deep levels.
At the NFL level, he projects as a slot receiver where a team can use bunches and motion to keep him clean off the line. He’ll work the short, intermediate, and middle of the field to help move the offense. Best fit is in a West Coast, quick-passing scheme.
For a player comp, I’ll go with Stefon Diggs. They are built similarly and coming out of college Diggs wasn’t physical or winning over the top but had capable hands and could create first downs. He too struggled with physical defenders and had to prove himself as a route runner. He had some solid years in Minnesota before it really clicked in Buffalo.
NFL Projection: Third to Fourth RoundSteelers Depot Grade: 7.7 (Spot Starter)Grade Range: 6.7 – 8.2Games Watched: 2025 – At Syracuse, At Boston College, At Rice, Vs Duke, At Florida Atlantic
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