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Steve Smith endorses undrafted free agent Dillon Bell, a Georgia wide receiver recently signed by the Minnesota Vikings. Smith previously criticized Georgia coach Kirby Smart for Bell's college usage.
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If youāre just checking into Minnesota Vikings football for 2026, itās perfect timing, and you should get to know Georgia wide receiver Dillon Bell, an undrafted free agency find last weekend by interim general manager Rob Brzezinski. Bell still has a long way to go to establish himself, but it doesnāt hurt that he has five-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Steve Smithās blessing.
Minnesota may have a summer name worth watching at wide receiver.
Smith criticized Georgia head coach Kirby Smart earlier this month, saying his usage of Bell in college wasnāt exactly the greatest.
Bell could latch onto the bottom of the Vikingsā roster later this summer.

Georgia wide receiver Dillon Bell celebrates in the end zone after a touchdown during Sugar Bowl College Football Playoff action at Caesars Superdome on Jan. 1, 2026, in New Orleans, Louisiana. The moment captures his energy alongside teammates during a high-scoring quarterfinal matchup against Ole Miss. Mandatory Credit: Ayrton Breckenridge/Clarion Ledger / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.
Dillon Bell is an undrafted free agent wide receiver from Georgia, recently signed by the Minnesota Vikings, and is seen as a potential summer standout.
Steve Smith criticized Georgia head coach Kirby Smart for not utilizing Dillon Bell effectively during his college career.
Rob Brzezinski is the interim general manager of the Minnesota Vikings, responsible for signing Dillon Bell as a free agent.
Steve Smith's endorsement may enhance Dillon Bell's visibility and opportunities as he tries to establish himself in the Vikings' roster.
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Smith on Bell
Earlier this month, Smith claimed the Bulldogsā coaching staff had done Bell āa disserviceā and that he was āstraight up frustratedā by what he saw on tape.
Smith also criticized Georgiaās quarterback: āLetās get right down to it. I donāt know the young manās name, and I donāt want to because the way I watched him play quarterback, hell, Iām irritated just watching it. Goodness gracious. The quarterback play from the Georgia Bulldogs, uh, awful. Uh, Dog doo-doo. As a wide receiver, Iām going on strike, right? Iām not working or running a route until I get a better quarterback. And holler at your boy, when you get it, because Iām out of here.ā
On Bell, Smith added, āThis is a kid who you get him in the building, and you coach him up, he can really surprise you.ā
It sounds like Bell is one of āhis guys.ā
Whoās Bell Anyway?
Bell, at 6ā1ā³ and 210 pounds, with 4.50 speed, possesses a solid all-around physical profile. To establish himself in the league, heāll need to be highly versatile. He projects as a jack-of-all-trades on offense, capable of playing multiple positions and filling multiple roles, whether on the Vikingsā regular-season roster or with another team. Think Josh Mettellus, but on offense.
SI.comās Jonathan Williams on Bell before the draft: āComing out of high school, Bell was rated as a three-star prospect, the 452nd-best player in the country, the 68th-best wide receiver in the 2022 recruiting class and the 64th-best player in the state of Texas, according to 247 sports composite rankings. The first thing people need to know about Bell is his versatility.ā
āDuring his time at Georgia, he played running back, slot, Z and X. During the 2023 season, Georgia was banged up at running back and needed some extra depth so Bell slid into the backfield. He finished the season with 25 carries, 157 yards and two rushing touchdowns.ā
In recent years, the Vikings havenāt really wrapped their hands around offensive āgadgets,ā so Bell would be a nice change of pace.

Georgia wide receiver Dillon Bell works through coverage while carrying the ball during Sugar Bowl quarterfinal action at Caesars Superdome on Jan. 1, 2026, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Defenders close in as Bell navigates traffic in the third quarter, showing balance and awareness in a tightly contested playoff game. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images.
Williams continued, āHe finished his career with 51 carries for 373 yards and five touchdowns. Over his four year career, Bell racked up 119 receptions for 1,269 yards and 11 touchdowns. Bell may not have the numbers or the resume of a day one or early day two draft pick at wide receiver, but he could end up being a very underrated addition in the middle rounds of the draft.ā
āWhichever team picks up Bell is not only getting a solid receiver, but a Swiss Army Knife. Whatever position the offense needs him to play, he can go out there and do it.ā
The Adam Thielen and Ivan Pace Jr. Blueprint
Minnesota is no stranger to onboarding impactful undrafted free agents. In fact, it has become a tradition, especially with Adam Thielenās worldwide Cinderella story, which began in 2013. The Vikings also found Ivan Pace Jr. from the same process in 2023, and heās back in the saddle for Year No. 4 this season.
Since Thielenās emergence captivated everyone, all told, Minnesota has empowered these undrafted free agents for various periods:
So when you see folks pounding the table for Bell or a different UDFA, know that sometimes it does indeed work out.
Training Camp Will Have Answers
When will you know if Bell fulfills the forecast from Smith and lofty praise from Kirby Smart? Well, thatās about three months away.

Miami quarterback Carson Beck walks alongside Georgia wide receiver Dillon Bell during NFL Scouting Combine activities at Lucas Oil Stadium on Feb. 28, 2026, in Indianapolis, Indiana. The scene captures both prospects between drills, offering a glimpse into pre-draft interaction and preparation during the leagueās evaluation process. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images.
Training camp kicks off at the end of July, and the Vikings will spend one month determining a 53-man roster, complete with a few preseason games for the full experience. It is already evident that fans will have big plans for Bell, and itāll be up to him to secure a spot as the WR4, WR5, or WR6.
Letās face it: if Smith sees something in him, thereās a decent chance that Bell fulfills his destiny with a regular season roster spot or lives on the practice squad at the very least. The guy sounds like he belongs in the NFL. He may also benefit from a thin WR spot around the aforementioned WR4-WR6 range.
Bell will turn 23 in November.