Draft Analysis: Ronnie Bell

February 7, 2023 /
  • Height: 5’11”
  • Weight: 191 lb
  • College: Michigan
  • Tape watched: TCU, Iowa, Ohio State
  • College Comparison: Dante Pettis

Pros

  • Route Running
    Ronnie Bell is a smooth operator on the football field. He has an elegance to him the way he bends in and out of cuts and around defenders. He put out solid film at the Senior Bowl during 1 on 1 drills. He doesn’t snap routes as well as some other explosive receivers, but he understands coverages and how to get open.
  • Release
    The best part of Ronnie Bell is how compact he plays. He wastes little movement through his release. Compact generally equals explosiveness at the position, and Bell has both. He fires off the line of scrimmage with great body control and active hands. He is proactive rather than reactive to contact.
  • RAC
    Michigan frequently used Bell in swing and motion plays to get option looks from the defense. This got the ball in his hands early and with space, and he did well with finding running lanes and making defenders miss. He should do well at the next level avoiding tackles.

Midline

  • Speed/Big play ability
    Bell’s play speed may not align with the 40 time he posts. Most of Bell’s production came underneath safeties.
  • Versatility
    Bell has been talked about as a receiver that can transition to the NFL at all three receiver positions. Based on his usage at Michigan, this is accurate. However, I see a receiver that may not win outside and downfield, and whose skillset already leans heavily to the slot.

Cons

  • Size
    A midline size of 5’11” 192lb, but a frame that carries smaller than advertised. Bell is a lean receiver that has no stopping power with the football. He can be bumped off routes by physical corners.
  • Drops
    Far too many instances of dropped passes for Bell. For someone with great body control and sideline presence, this was disappointing. Bell cannot be trusted in contested catch situations for the time being.

Overview

A savvy receiver, Bell falls into the ever growing pool of receivers with his size and traits. I am not sure Bell has enough to separate from the pack, so his landing spot may fully decide his career path. I think Bell has WR3 upside with his route running abilities, but he could find himself buried on a depth chart. Upside is Amon-Ra St. Brown, downside could be a career like Dante Pettis.