FantasyPros will be taking a look at early NFL Draft scouting reports before the Combine in February. Here’s a look at Connecticut wide receiver Skyler Bell.
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2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Skyler Bell
Skyler Bell (WR – Connecticut)
6’0″ – 185 lbs.
Background
Three-star recruit who originally attended Wisconsin, where he redshirted in 2021 before earning a starting role on the outside the following season and finishing with 30-444-5 (14.8). Slid into the slot for 2023 and went 38-296-1 (7.8) before transferring to Connecticut. Has been taking about a third of his snaps from the slot for the Huskies over the past two seasons, with 50-860-5 (17.2) in 2024 and a monster 101-1,278-13 (12.7) line this past year.
Positives
Four-year starter between two different programs, with significantly escalating output in each of the past two seasons. Has extensive experience both outside and inside. Good athlete with an impressive combination of quickness, suddenness, and flexibility which makes him a nice route-runner; snappy at the stem, with good explosiveness there. Leans into defenders before breaking and adds in window-dressing, head-fakes, and tempo changes into the stem. Despite being a thinner receiver, shows good toughness to work the middle of the field on short slants, crossers, over routes, etc. Primarily works at the short and intermediate levels, but has the speed to threaten defenses downfield, and the respect he earns from opposing cornerbacks creates breathing room underneath the coverage. Hands were much more reliable this season than they have been in the past. Caught half of his career contested catches, and nearly two-thirds this past season. Has solid burst with the ball in his hands, and is able to weave through traffic to gain yardage after the catch; the team does try to feed him the ball on some screens to see what he can do. Shows good urgency as a blocker.
Negatives
Numbers are a little bit inflated from a high rate of screens (41 in 2025.) Frame is on the thin side. Didn’t see him working against a lot of press coverage, but might struggle to work through jams from bigger cornerbacks due to his build. Significantly cut down on drops this past season, but they have been an issue in the past, with 24 versus 220 career catches. Competitive as a runner, but doesn’t survive contact very often. Lacks ideal strength/contact balance as a blocker. Seems like he might be able to return punts, but has almost no in-game experience there, other than a few kick returns over the past couple of years.
Summary
A thin but very quick, sudden receiver with experience both inside and outside, he cut down on drops this past season and put up a huge year driven by screens and short routes, showing good competitiveness and route-running chops. Will likely need to add additional strength at the next level, but if he can show that he’s put his issues with drops behind him, could be a nice find. Looks to be in the second-day mix, and shouldn’t last much beyond the top hundred picks or so.
Projection: Round 3
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