Jaheim Bell NFL Draft Preview
Jaheim Bell NFL Draft Preview
Jaheim Bell played both Wide Receiver and Tight End in high school, making him an intriguing prospect for Universities. Unfortunately for Bell, he tore his ACL in his senior season. Bell was originally committed to the University of Florida but ended up going to South Carolina to start his college career.
In his first season (2020 COVID year), he saw limited action in five games, catching one pass for 29 yards.
Bell’s second season went much better, playing in 13 games and catching 30 passes 497 yards and five touchdowns. He also rushed seven times for 40 yards. This season culminated in a Duke’s Mayo Bowl victory for the Gamecocks, mostly thanks to Jaheim Bell. Bell led the team with five catches for 159 yards and two touchdowns (both touchdowns came on plays of over 65 yards). He rushed three times for 21 yards.
After his explosive bowl game, a lot of people were high on the budding Tight End and his 2022 potential. Unfortunately, Bell really didn’t see much of an uptick in usage, catching only 25 passes for 231 yards and two touchdowns. His carries did increase, finishing with 73 carries for 261 yards and three touchdowns.
After a disappointing season and some drama from his family, Bell transferred to Florida State for his senior year. There he caught 39 passes for 503 yards and two touchdowns. He only carried the ball four times for two yards and one touchdown.
Bell finished his college career with 95 catches for 1260 yards and nine touchdowns. He carried the ball 84 times for 303 yards and four touchdowns.
He is considered a late-round pick who will need a bit of work to make it at the NFL level.
Measurables
- 6’2″ 241 lbs
- 40-yard dash – 4.61 seconds
- 10-yard split – 1.58 seconds
- Vertical Jump – 35″
POSITIVES
Jaheim Bell most notably benefits from his usage all over the field. He has been utilized as a Tight End, Wide Receiver, and Running Back during his college years.
He has a ton of speed and agility for a Tight End, making him a threat in the open field. If he catches a ball in space, he has the ability to turn it into a long touchdown.
Bell is a yards-after-catch (YAC) guy. He uses his speed to get to where he needs to be on the field and can keep his momentum going after making a catch. He could easily be the guy to turn a short pass into a first down.
Bell is a good route runner, thanks to his time playing Wide Receiver. He has a well-built up route tree.
He is a good pass catcher who is above average in contested catches. He also can track the ball well and make adjustments as needed.
Bell has experience running the ball, so he could be used in end-arounds or other trick plays.
NEGATIVES
Bell’s biggest flaw is his size. He is relatively undersized for an NFL Tight End, and it shows in certain parts of his game.
For instance, Bell struggles with run and pass protection. He lacks instincts and vision when picking up blockers and is often overpowered by stronger defenders. Bell has below-average strength despite his smaller size. He can be pushed around more easily and may struggle to catch passes against more physical defensive backs.
GRADE – C-
It’s hard to really say what Jaheim Bell can be in the NFL. It seems like he lacks the true size and strength to make it as an NFL Tight End. He struggles with blocking, meaning he may not see the field on run plays or on plays where he needs to stay back to protect the Quarterback.
However, he is very agile and quick, making him a matchup nightmare for linebackers. He has solid route running and catch-passing, but his biggest plus is his ability to take a pass for a big gain at any moment.
Bell seems like he could be a useful pass-catching Tight End with skills that also make him dangerous in the run game. I don’t expect him to see a ton of carries, but it shows how versatile he can be.
If Bell can put on some muscle and work on his blocking, he could be a three-down type of player. He may not see much fantasy relevance early in his career, but he is someone to pay attention to as a potential Tight End weapon (like a Taysom Hill).
Happily married father of two boys. I love all sports, although prefer watching them since I’m a wildly mediocre athlete. And that’s why I write fantasy football articles! I’ve been writing for Fantasyfootballcalculator for over six years now. Besides that, I enjoy watching Badger football and basketball even though it raises my blood pressure. In my downtime, I enjoy traveling with my family, playing video games with friends, and golfing.
