College coaches point out a hidden gem that the Dallas Cowboys are already looking into ahead of 2026 NFL Draft
Louisville WR Chris Bell is being named a draft sleeper, and he happens to be one who is already on the Dallas Cowboys’ radar. Plus, they have some inside information on him.
One of the most intriguing aspects of the Dallas Cowboys’ 2026 NFL Draft is what will happen on Day 2.
They have no second-round pick, but they may get one if they manage to trade down in the first. And in the third round, pick No. 92 overall could be used to pick a rookie or to trade for a veteran (looking at you, Miami Dolphins LB Jordyn Brooks).
But looking at their Top 30 visits and recent intel from the college coaching ranks, they could have their eyes set on a hidden gem at wide receiver.
Cowboys’ pre-draft visitor named a ‘sleeper’
In a recent article over at ESPN, Adam Rittenberg let college football coaches pick their draft sleepers. Among them stood out Louisville WR Chris Bell.
You see, Bell is already one of the Cowboys’ Top 30 visits ahead of the draft.
“He was the best receiver in our league,” said an ACC coach via ESPN. “He’s a guy that, without the injuries, is definitely a top-80 pick.”
Unfortunately, Bell is dealing with an injury. In December, he underwent surgery for a torn ACL on his left knee. That, however, leads me to another reason why Bell is squarely on the Cowboys’ radar: Dallas head physician Dr. Dan Cooper performed the surgery, according to The Athletic’s Dane Brugler.
In the past, the Cowboys have shown a clear willingness to pick players who worked with Dr. Cooper. Most recently, they drafted CB Shavon Revel Jr. in the third round.
“[The injury is] going to hurt his draft stock a little, but I really like him, he’s a guy who can really shine at the next level,” Louisville head coach Jeff Brohm said via the article. “He’s got a big, physical body. He runs well with that. He went from the third-best receiver to the second-most productive, to the most productive. He didn’t shy away from the competition.”
WR Chris Bell scouting report
Bell ranks 41st on the A to Z Sports board in our draft simulator and 53rd on the consensus big board. According to our own Rob Gregson, he would be a first-round pick if it wasn’t for the injury.
“Chris Bell might be the favorite WR in this class,” Gregson wrote in our 30 visit tracker. “If not for an ACL tear that cost him the remainder of his 2025 season, I don’t see a world where he gets out of round 1. Sources have told A to Z Sports that Bell is a relentless competitor with a nonstop motor. He’s built like a running back, yet he can hit 23 mph with the ball in his hands. Some in the league believe he is the next A.J. Brown. He could be what the Cowboys hoped they received from Jonathan Mingo.”