A judge in Dallas County recently sentenced Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice for his role in an increasingly infamous multi-car crash last offseason. With the legal process nearing its conclusion, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Rice is expected to be suspended by the NFL for a portion of the upcoming season.
Rice is entering the second-to-last year of a second round rookie contract that never pays him more than $2.1 million in a single season. A potential extension could prove costly for Kansas City, but concerns from last year’s incident might push the Chiefs to either trade their best receiver next offseason or let his current deal expire. The Pittsburgh Steelers recently made a similar decision with former second round pick George Pickens.
With questions looming in their wide receiver room, the Chiefs should begin examining their options in the 2026 NFL draft. Similar to the 2025 class, the 2026 draft doesn’t feature many elite wide receivers. However, players like Connecticut’s Skyler Bell give teams options in the late third and early fourth round.
Bell is only listed at 6’0″, 185 lbs., but the Huskies deploy him in every role imaginable. He even lines up in the backfield as a running back before going out on routes. Bell is a creative and sudden route runner who generates natural separation with his sharp deceleration and snappy cuts. Cornerbacks struggle to mirror and match his loose athleticism.
Play of the Day No. 107: Skyler Bell sluggo gets the corner to bite hard and clears space over the top for an easy 40-yard touchdown (Connecticut vs. Buffalo, 2024). #POTD pic.twitter.com/AuLIrMALbZ
— Sam Teets (@Sam_Teets33) June 7, 2025
Bell’s creativity extends to his route fakes. He uses his head and shoulders to force cornerbacks to bite down before accelerating past them. Bell’s smooth hips allow him to string together multiple cuts or fakes, making him a dynamic route runner capable of creating space in a phone booth.
Bell lacks elite burst, but he builds up enough speed to stack cornerbacks downfield and generate big plays. His ball tracking shows up on these deep passes. Unfortunately, Bell’s lack of size makes it difficult for him to compete with defensive backs when isolated in jump-ball situations.
Play of the Day No. 109: Skyler Bell turns on the jets to score from 70 yards out against Buffalo. (Connecticut vs. Buffalo, 2024). #POTD pic.twitter.com/VHx81aOg4M
— Sam Teets (@Sam_Teets33) June 9, 2025
After the catch, Bell turns on the jets to break away from defenses and pick up significant yardage. He sees the field well and displays a natural feel for maximizing plays by running into open space. Bell lacks the mass to break tackles consistently, but his speed still makes him a threat on slants, schemed touches and other low-depth plays.
Bell must become a more disciplined on-field performer. He takes too much time setting up his routes and shows little urgency. Bell must spend less time trying to shake cornerbacks with fancy releases and more time prioritizing the execution of clean, quick routes that match his quarterback’s timing.
