Skyler Bell Should Play Right Away for the Bills

Before transferring to UCONN, Bell played primarily in a gadget role at Wisconsin. He didn’t get anywhere near the number of targets as he did after transferring, but the flashes were always there.

During his redshirt freshman year at Wisconsin, Bell had the opportunity to run the ball 13 times. He picked up 160 yards on those carries and wouldn’t see another one again until 2025. However, this is an interesting thing to note because it shows that Wisconsin knew they had a good football player on their hands.

One of the biggest rules of being an offensive coach in football is getting the ball to your best player by any means necessary. 

In the past, Joe Brady has proven he’s willing to do this. Whether it’s putting wide receivers in the backfield, utilizing motion, or hook-and-ladder trick plays, the Bills will get creative with Bell, too.

It could be difficult to get targets with D.J. Moore and Khalil Shakir on the field, but this could be a good thing for Bell. 

He’s not going to a situation where he needs to be the number one wide receiver. He can be used in specific packages that fit his strengths, and as he develops, he’ll earn more playing time.

Perfect Fit for Buffalo

While undersized at 5-foot-11, Bell makes up for it with his hands and athleticism. At the combine, Bell ran a 4.4 40-yard dash and posted a 41-inch vertical.

During his 2025 campaign at UCONN, he had just four drops on 141 targets. Per PFF, Bell’s drops ranked him 457th out of qualified receivers. To have so few drops on the volume of targets he received is impressive.

If there’s one skill that translates easiest to the NFL for wide receivers, it’s catching the football. It might sound simple, but it’s a skill that isn’t always coachable. 

Another key aspect of Bell’s game is his after-the-catch ability. He has the speed to break away on a screen pass or make a man miss. This is a style of play the Bills were missing at the wide receiver position last year, outside of Khalil Shakir.

The Bills have made a clear effort this offseason to acquire receivers who excel at creating separation. That’s no more apparent than trading for D.J. Moore and drafting Skyler Bell. 

They might not have been the flashiest moves ever, but Brandon Beane deserves credit for identifying a weakness and being aggressive to improve it.

Between Moore, Shakir, and Bell, the Bills should see significant improvements in the wide receiver room in getting open. The less tight windows Josh Allen has to throw into, the better. 

Bell likely won’t unseat Moore or Shakir for playing time, but he’s talented enough to play a complementary role to them from day one.

A Positive Outlook

The Bills might not have filled every need the roster had during the NFL Draft, but if Skyler Bell is given an opportunity to showcase his talent, he’ll make Brandon Beane look like a genius.

Bell has more than enough talent to warrant playing time early in the season, but the good thing is that the team doesn’t have to rush him. Giving him the third or fourth most snaps out of all the team’s receivers is all he needs.

While he has a similar playstyle to Khalil Shakir, a team can never have enough receivers like that. Tough, gritty players who have sure hands and are willing to run any route you ask them will always have a spot on the roster.

The Bills still have faith in Keon Coleman to improve in year three, too, which could be another positive to the offense. If the Bills can get creative in using Bell with the rest of the receiver room, the sky is the limit.

There’s plenty to be excited about in Buffalo next season, and Skyler Bell is a big proponent of that.

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