The Miami Dolphins made a savvy move in the 2026 NFL Draft, adding Louisville wide receiver Chris Bell in the third round—and early comparisons suggest they may have landed a future star.
Even after signing veterans Jalen Tolbert, Tutu Atwell, and Terrace Marshall Jr., the Dolphins wisely recognized they needed more depth at wide receiver. So they took three wideouts in the draft, with Bell headlining the group as a potential steal.
What exactly are the Dolphins getting in Bell? According to Eric Galko, director of football operations for the East-West Shrine Bowl, the answer is first-round talent—and a comparison to a three-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion.
"If he doesn’t get hurt in November, he’s a first-round pick. I wouldn’t be surprised if he ends up being the Dolphins’ best receiver by the second half of the season," Galko told the Miami Herald. "He’s AJ Brown. He’s locked in on his rehab. I got a chance to get to know him; he’s a good person with a really impressive background. He’s self-confident but also a guy who can stay in the background. To get him in the third round, I can imagine how happy they were.”
Bell spent four seasons at Louisville, earning All-ACC honors in 2025. Over 47 games, he posted 151 receptions for 2,166 yards and 12 touchdowns. A torn ACL late in the 2025 season caused his draft stock to slip to the third round, but his talent is undeniable.
The AJ Brown comparison is no small praise. Brown is a three-time All-Pro, a Super Bowl champion with the Philadelphia Eagles, and has racked up 524 catches for 8,029 yards and 56 touchdowns over seven seasons with the Titans and Eagles. If Bell can mirror even a fraction of that success in Miami, the Dolphins will have pulled off one of the biggest steals of the draft.
For a team looking to build around a dynamic offense, Bell's combination of size, hands, and football IQ could make him a key contributor sooner rather than later. And if his rehab goes as planned, Dolphins fans might just see that AJ Brown comparison come to life on the field.