Louisville wide receiver Chris Bell was on a pre-draft visit with the Kansas City Chiefs this week. The team seeks to find stability both now and for the future at the wide receiver spot. Due to a multitude of different factors, Bell is one of the more intriguing cases to follow if Kansas City waits a little bit on a wide receiver selection.
Injury familiarity and Bell's size make for a tantalizing case, even for a player currently recovering from something.
Chiefs have recent knowledge on torn ACL injuries
Obviously, Bell is recovering from a major injury. Tearing his ACL late in Louisville's season this past fall will likely lead to a draft slide. Kansas City already has players of their own recovering from torn ACLs suffered last season. Defensive tackle Omarr Norman-Lott suffered his injury in October. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes went down with ACL and LCL injuries in December.
There is an interesting item tying in some notes from Dane Brugler's The Beast draft guide on The Athletic. Bell and Mahomes both suffered a torn ACL to their left knee, and Dr. Dan Cooper in Dallas performed each of their surgeries.
The Chiefs have already been receiving additional updates from Dr. Cooper on their star quarterback. That built-in relationship may give them even more confidence when looking into Bell's recovery outlook.
Size thresholds are exactly what K.C. needs
The injury prevented Bell from participating in the on-field testing at the Scouting Combine. While there, though, the Louisville product measured in at 6-foot-2 and 222 pounds. His incredible hand-size measurement of 10 inches is also notable for the position.
Price Carter mentioned in his draft profile of Bell that his NFL frame is a massive strength. There is no doubt that Kansas City needs larger options for Mahomes to throw to. Certain teams will never shy away from physical freaks of nature if it falls to them in the draft.
Adding in the impressive burst and long speed of Bell, this wide receiver's pure talent is just too easy to notice. He may not be a vertical threat or as varied in his route tree entering the NFL. However, Bell presents natural abilities that a team can truly develop around.
Staff change makes possible Bell selection more captivating
Drafting a player coming off an injury will naturally make some fans scratch their heads. If the Chiefs were to select Bell, there is one major reason why you would at least be more anxiously waiting to see what K.C. makes of it. The change to Chad O'Shea as wide receivers coach boosts the likelihood that Bell is handled properly.
Adding O'Shea gave the Chiefs someone with long-term experience as a wide receivers coach. More importantly, it adds an adult in the room leading a group that has ridden rollercoasters recently. Kansas City searches for stabilization at that spot on the roster. Even in a recovery state, Bell can hope to add a foundation for the Chiefs. O'Shea helps to ensure that confidence.
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