Bills take risk and land explosive new weapon for Josh Allen and the offense in latest 2026 NFL mock draft
It’s exactly what fans have been hoping for.
The team at A to Z Sports is busy chopping away at some 2026 NFL mock drafts with the college football regular season now concluded.
Not to put the cart before the horse, but perhaps the biggest need this team faces is a true No. 1 wide receiver. There have been issues in the passing game in 2025, and Buffalo needs to pair quarterback Josh Allen with an elite weapon.
Whether it’s the draft or through free agency or perhaps even a trade, it’s the biggest need heading into the 2026 season.
Chris Bell, welcome to Buffalo
With Buffalo selecting 24th overall in our mock draft, the team has the Buffalo Bills selecting Louisville wide receiver Chris Bell.
Bell is a monster human with unreal explosiveness at 6-1 1/2, 227 pounds. He has elite upside after the catch and would give Buffalo exactly what fans have been asking for.
In the mock, the team highlighted why, despite some injury history, Bell is worth the risk in Buffalo.
“Even with the recent news of a torn ACL, Bell is still a risk worth taking. At over 6-1 and 227 pounds, the Louisville star is an outstanding athlete who has absurd acceleration for his size. Quarterback Josh Allen could use this type of after catch demon.” — Ryan Roberts, A to Z Sports NFL Draft.
Bell has continued to improve each of his seasons a Lousiville. In 2022, he registered seven catches for 105 yards and bumped that up in 2024 with 29 receptions for 407 yards and two touchdowns.
He started to become more of a focal point in the offense in 2024 with 43 receptions for 737 yards and four touchdowns, but it was 2025 that saw him really ascend his game. In 2025, Bell had totaled 72 receptions for 917 yards and six touchdowns.
What Bell would bring to Buffalo’s passing game
In the mock draft, Bell was the fourth wide receiver taken in the first round. The New York Giants took Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson with the first overall pick, the Arizona Cardinals selected Carnell Tate from Ohio State with the eighth overall pick, and the Philadelphia Eagles took wide receiver Makai Lemon with the 21st overall pick.
Roberts discussed what type of player Bell was, and what he could bring to Buffalo as a true No. 1 receiver. Despite some injury concerns, there’s a lot to be excited about with Bell as a potential fit.
“Before the 2025 season, Bell was used more as a secondary option for the Louisville passing attack, but the flashes of athleticism were tantalizing. At over 6-1 and 227 pounds, Bell has some uncommon movement skills for a player his size. The acceleration for his body type makes him extremely unique, especially after the catch. Bell has the ability to erase angles in the open field and is physical enough to also break through arm tackles.
“For a bulkier wide receiver, Bell also has some very underrated fluidity to develop into a nice route runner down the road. Bell is now recovering from an ACL injury, which could make him a potential value to a team if he slides at all. Regardless, this is a future WR1 who fits the modern NFL perfectly.” — Ryan Roberts, A to Z Sports NFL Draft.
If Buffalo is going to maximize the prime years of Allen’s career, surrounding him with elite playmakers is no longer optional; it’s a necessity. While plenty can change between now and the draft, Chris Bell checks many of the boxes the Bills have been searching for.
If the medicals clear, and Bell continues on his current trajectory, Buffalo may have a rare but fortunate opportunity to pair its franchise quarterback with the kind of physically imposing wide receiver that can change the complexion of an offense for years to come.
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