Ronnie Bell, WR Michigan: 2023 NFL Draft Profile

Bell was a three-star recruit from Park Hill High School in Kansas City, Mo. in the class of 2018

Michigan’s Ronnie Bell is part of the deep wide receiver class in the 2023 NFL Draft. The Wolverine captain participated in the Senior Bowl and NFL Combine this cycle. Let’s take a look at the Missouri native’s draft profile.

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Ronnie Bell, WR Michigan: 2023 NFL Draft Profile

Classification: Fifth year wide receiver from Kansas City, Mo.

Background: Bell was a three-star recruit from Park Hill High School in Kansas City, Mo. in the class of 2018. He was the No. 1,473 recruit according to 247Sports and No. 1,411 for On3.com. Bell was an unranked two-star recruit for Rivals and an unranked three-star recruit for ESPN with a 73 grade out of 100. He made 159 receptions for 2,476 yards and 31 touchdowns during his prep career, putting him on lists with Dorial Green-Beckham and Jeremy Maclin as one of Missouri state’s top three career leaders in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns. Bell also returned 33 kickoffs for 808 yards and returned 65 punts for 665 yards and a touchdown. As a high school senior, he amassed 89 receptions for 1,605 yards and 21 touchdowns in addition to 15 carries for 163 yards and three touchdowns. As a junior, he averaged 14.4 points per game on the hardwood, earning First-Team All-District and All-Conference honors in basketball. At one point, he signed a letter of intent to play basketball for Missouri State. Bell received the Thomas A. Simone Award given to the top football player in Kansas City as a senior. He also won the 2017 Otis Taylor Award, which goes to the most outstanding wide receiver or tight end in the Kansas City area. Bell earned the 2017 Suburban Gold Offensive Player of the Year award and 2017 Kansas City Star First-Team All-Metro, Class 6 First-Team All-State, and All-District honors as a senior. He was born Jan. 28, 2000.

Injuries & Off-Field: Missed 13 games with a torn ACL in 2021

Awards: 2019 Honorable Mention All-Big Ten, 2022 Third-Team All-Big Ten, 2019 & 2022 Michigan Offensive Skill Player of the Year

Pros: Some experience as a punt returner, experience playing in the slot and out wide, great ball tracking, makes catches outside of his frame, body control, maximizes arm length at the catch point, makes sideline grabs, cuts in routes are generally sharp, generates separation with route running, some suddenness to his routes, varies route tempo, lower body sinks at the top of routes, head and shoulder fakes to sell routes, instances of speed helping him stack off-coverage corners, vision as a ball carrier, enough speed to offer YAC upside, bailed out J.J. McCarthy numerous times, willing blocker, attacks the corner’s hands when establishing initial positioning as a blocker

Cons: Age, five drops in 2022, some concentration drops, lean frame will struggle with press, struggles to get out of the blocks against physical press corners, release package lacks sudden moves to defeat press, not an explosive or twitchy playmaker, doesn’t have the elite athleticism to separate from sticky cover corners, doesn’t generate consistent separation vertically, instances of losing balance when trying to decelerate quickly at the top of a route, struggles working through bodies across the middle, concentration on running crips and detailed routes wavers, not a plus in contested catch situations, benefited from manufactured touches

Overview: Bell took official measurements at the NFL Combine. He’s 5115 and weighs 191 lbs. He has 9 4/8-inch hands and 31-inch arms. Bell had a 75-inch wingspan at the Senior Bowl. He was a back-to-back team captain for the Wolverines and is seventh all-time in receiving yards in program history. Bell gained some experience as a punt returner during his five seasons under Jim Harbaugh. He played more than 400 snaps lined up out wide and in the slot. Bell has great ball tracking skills, which he pairs with ideal body control. The former three-star recruit maximizes his arm length at the catch point and extends to make catches outside of his frame. His cuts are sharp and help him generate separation. Bell generally isn’t an explosive or twitchy athlete, but there is an element of suddenness in how he breaks off his routes. The Missouri native varies his route tempo, and his lower body sinks at the top of routes. He deploys head and shoulder fakes to sell routes. There are instances of Bell’s speed helping him overtake and stack off-coverage corners. He showcases vision as a ball carrier and plays with enough speed to generate YAC. Bell is a willing blocker who knows how to attack the cornerback’s hands and establish positioning for his block. Bell suffered from concentration drops during his college career. He dropped eight passes in 2019, five in 2022, and had a few drops at the Senior Bowl. Bell’s lean frame leads to some struggles against press coverage. His release package isn’t developed enough to overcome this physical deficit. Bell doesn’t have the high-end speed to threaten defenses vertically consistently, and his mediocre athleticism leads to inconsistent separation on intermediate routes. He lost his balance several times in 2022 when trying to decelerate quickly at the top of his routes. Bell struggles to work through bodies across the middle of the field. His concentration as a route runner sometimes wavers, leading to rounded routes.

Overall, Bell is a high-character athlete who overcame a torn ACL in 2021 to have a career year in 2022. His route running and ball skills are very impressive, but Bell lacks the high-end athletic traits and release package to warrant a top 120 selection. His hustle and heart will create opportunities, but the fifth-year Wolverine needs to find a better answer for press coverage.

Role & Scheme Fit: Slot receiver (Y) in an 11 personnel heavy scheme

Round Projection: Late Fourth to Mid Fifth

Player Comparison: N/A

Submitted: 03-10-23