All options are on the table for the New England Patriots in the first round of this month’s 2026 NFL Draft. Head coach Mike Vrabel says he does not believe in drafting for need, implying that he will look to select the best player available at pick No. 31.
If that sentiment rings true, the second round selection could likely be a wide receiver. This year’s draft class has been criticised for a lack of stars, but the wide receiver class could prove to be one of the deepest in recent memory.
As such, it would not be surprising if the best player available at pick No. 63 is Louisville wide receiver Chris Bell, who has been getting more and more love from Patriots media leading up to the draft weekend.
“One of the most difficult draft-day assessments in the class, Bell has the skill set to be (like A.J. Brown) a physically-dominant No. 1 option,” NBC Sports Boston’s Phill Perry wrote. “At 6-foot-2, 222 pounds, the number of corners who will be able to match his strength will be few and far between.
“If the Patriots like their depth for the here-and-now at receiver, and if they’re unsure on a trade for Brown, might they be willing to roll the dice on Bell and his Brown-ish skill set?”
Patriots.com writer Mike Dussault echoed Perry’s sentiment, singing the praises of the big-bodied wide receiver in a mock draft of his own.
“When healthy, he profiles as a physical perimeter receiver with the strength and speed to win in traffic and generate yards after the catch,” Dussault wrote. “If he regains full explosiveness, this pick carries clear Day 2 upside with the potential to give the Patriots a bigger outside presence to complement their current receiver room.”
Bell is not injury-prone; however, a late-season ACL tear kept the 21-year-old from participating in offseason workouts during the pre-draft process.
More NFL: Latest Update Reveals What Patriots Will Have To Give Up For A.J. Brown