Ronnie Bell Scouting Report and NFL Draft Player Profile

Ronnie Bell Scouting Report

2023 NFL Draft Measurements

 Ronnie Bell 40-Yard Dash Time – 4.44

6’0” / 190 lbs.

Ronnie Bell Draft Profile

Ronnie Bell is a former 3-star recruit out of Park Hill High School in Kansas City, Missouri. According to 247sports, Bell was the 13th-best player in the state of Missouri in the 2018 recruiting class. One notable player that he was ranked behind was former Michigan teammate Hassan Haskins. He was also ranked as the 168th-best receiver in the very stacked 2018 recruiting class. While achieving this status, Bell only received one offer and that was to Michigan.

According to ESPN, while at Michigan, he racked up a total of 143 receptions for 2,249 yards and 9 touchdowns. A good amount of these stats came from his 5th-year senior season. In this season alone, he had 62 receptions for 889 yards and 4 touchdowns. The highlight of this season was against TCU in the CFP Semifinal. In this game, he had 6 receptions for 135 lbs and a touchdown.

Strengths

Football IQ

Ronnie Bell is one of the smartest receivers in the 2023 NFL Draft. When watching him play, he seems to have a very good understanding of the game and how to win in every scenario. Bell is very good at diagnosing zone coverage and finding a seam for an easy reception. He is also good at identifying when his QB is under pressure and does a good job of working back toward them. Bell also shows lots of mental toughness to consistently perform in clutch situations like 3rd downs and 2-minute drills.

Although Bell is a smaller receiver, he is an amazing blocker in the 2nd level. This is primarily due to his understanding of blocking angles. When the ball carrier is running toward Bell, he does a good job of steering the defender. This allows the ball carrier to keep the play alive and potentially take it to the endzone.

Route Running

Bell has a variety of releases that allow him to get open at the top of his route stem. Against press coverage, he does a good job of manipulating the opposing DB’s hips off the snap. This allows him to gain separation while stemming his route. When lined up against soft coverage, he uses his acceleration to quickly stem his route. At the top of the route stem, he does a good job of sinking his hips and quickly changing direction. While at Michigan, he had a very big route tree that allowed him to be effective everywhere on the field.

Versatility

When watching his film, I instantly noticed that Bell was used all over the field. Although he primarily lined up as a Z receiver on the outside, he was also seen in the slot. There were even a few times when I saw him lined up in the backfield. Being lined up all over the field really broadened the routes that he ran. He was also used in jet sweeps and other play-action plays.

Yards After the Catch

When Bell gets the ball in his hands, he does a good job of keeping the play alive. In the middle of the field, Bell is good at separating from defenders. When defenders would close in on him, he would do a good job of staying composed and allowing his natural athleticism to do the rest. Although he is a smaller receiver, he shows glimpses of being able to stay balanced through contact.

As FansEdge affiliates we receive compensation for any purchase made through our site.

Weaknesses

Production

When watching his film, I really struggled to find real reasons for concern. One of the biggest concerns I have is that he was not as productive as he could have been. Bell has played five years at Michigan and never had a season above 900 receiving yards. Although this isn’t a huge concern, it does make me question how productive he’ll be in the NFL.

Size

The other major concern that I have is something that he can’t fully control and that is his size. Bell stands at 6’0” which makes him below-average size compared to a lot of other receivers in the 2023 NFL Draft. He also only weighs 190 lbs. which hinders many parts of his game. The biggest area this impacts is his ability to make contested catches. As a player that I see having a role in the slot in the NFL, I have concerns about his ability to hold onto the ball through contact. I am also concerned about his longevity in the league if he takes one too many big hits.

Ronnie Bell Draft Stock

After watching countless hours of film on Ronnie Bell, I am unclear of where he will get drafted. Bell has lots of upside, which could help him go toward the middle of the draft. But, his lack of size and production makes me believe that he will go more toward the 5th round.

Final Thoughts on Ronnie Bell Scouting Report

Ronnie Bell is one of the best Big Ten receivers in the 2023 NFL Draft Class. Bell is a very smart and instinctual player who can win in almost any scenario. He has good awareness which allows him to find holes in zone coverage. Bell is also good at realizing when his QB is under pressure and works back to him. As a blocker, he has a good understanding of blocking angles which opens up lanes for the ball carrier. Bell is also very versatile which gives him a big route tree that allows him to be effective all over the field.

When he gets the ball in his hands, he does a good job of racking up extra yards. Although he primarily relies on his athleticism to extend plays, he shows glimpses of being able to fight through contact. The only major concern that I have is his lack of size which hinders his ability to make contested catches.

Ronnie Bell Player Comparison

When watching Ronnie Bell’s film, he shows resemblance of two rookies. Those two players are Khalil Shakir and Samori Toure. All three of these players are amazing route runners who are also good at extending plays. Bell is also the exact same size as Khalil Shakir, and a fellow Draft Dive analyst listed that as a weakness for Shakir as well.

Ronnie Bell Scouting Report and Player Profile Analyst – Matthew Lewis