The Buffalo Bills selected Skyler Bell in the 2026 NFL Draft to add some more depth to the wide receiver position.
Buffalo entered this offseason with a major need at wide receiver, and the Bills traded for DJ Moore to be the team’s No. 1 receiver. The other move was drafting Bell in the fourth round to be an impact receiver.
However, at the Bills’ rookie minicamp, Bell had some struggles; he dropped a couple of passes, which caused head coach Joe Brady to pull him aside and talk to him. After practice, Bell revealed what Brady said to him.
“He was just telling me just to be myself and stop overthinking,” Bell said, via NYUP.com. “That’s all it is with me. I was just in my head a little bit and getting jitters and things like that. And he was just telling me just be yourself and once you’re here, you’re here for a reason.”
Bell, meanwhile, did get a good laugh out of Brady before practice began, as he showed up to the coach’s office with his cleats on.
“He was making fun of me up in the office (because) I wore my cleats up there by accident. He was getting on me about that,” Bell said. “He’s cool, man. He’s about ball, he’s a football junkie.”
Although Bell did have some drops, he still made some incredible catches and plays, showcasing his skills.
The Bills selected Bell with the 125th overall pick out of UConn.
Bell Expects to Have Big Role in Bills Offense
After Buffalo selected Bell in the fourth round, the receiver was eager to join the Bills roster.
Bell knows he can make a difference as a rookie, and he believes he can be an explosive receiver for the offense.
“I’m dynamic; I’m explosive, versatile. I (can) do a lot of different things inside, outside, deep ball, contested catches, intermediate catches,” Bell said.
Bell can work his way up the Bills’ wide receiver depth chart, but after his first practice, he said he was just excited to be part of Buffalo’s roster.
“I’m blessed to be here. It’s a privilege to put on this uniform being the NFL,” Bell said after minicamp. “I just want to make the most of it and make people proud.”
Bell recorded 101 receptions for 1,278 yards and 13 touchdowns last season at UConn.
Buffalo Ecstatic to Select Bell
The Bills did a ton of work on Bell prior to the NFL Draft, and Buffalo was able to land him.
After picking Bell, Bills general manager Brandon Beane and head coach Joe Brady said they expect Bell to make an impact in the receiver room.
“We liked him a lot,” said Beane. “He can play inside and outside, he wins on contested catches.”
“He has versatility,” said head coach Joe Brady. “They asked him to do a lot of different things at Connecticut.”
Entering OTAs and training camp, the Bills’ wide receiver room is as follows:
- DJ Moore
- Khalil Shakir
- Joshua Palmer
- Keon Coleman
- Skyler Bell
- Mecole Hardman
- Tyrell Shavers
- Trent Sherfield
- Stephen Gosnell
- Jalen Virgil
Like HEAVY’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on HEAVY
The post Bills WR Reveals Message From Joe Brady After Drops at Rookie Minicamp appeared first on HEAVY.