ESPN predicts Commanders will take a risk on the ultimate boom-or-bust prospect on Day 2 of the NFL Draft
ESPN has the Commanders taking wide receiver Skyler Bell in their Day 2 mock draft. There’s a lot to like, but also a lot to wonder about. That’s what makes him the ultimate boom-or-bust prospect.
The Washington Commanders only have one selection heading into Day 2 of the NFL Draft, so Adam Peters and Co. have to nail the pick. ESPN believes the Commanders will take UConn wide receiver Skyler Bell with the 71st overall pick in their Day 2 mock draft.
The pick makes sense at first and on paper. The Commanders need to add another threat to the receiver room that can help take pressure off Terry McLaurin and potentially become a top target in the near future.
But when stepping back and looking at the whole hypothetical, Bell would be the ultimate boom-or-bust pick at 71 overall and it’s easy to see why.
Bell is as dynamic as it gets, but there are some big flaws and important context surrounding his game
Bell is an electric slot receiver who racked up 101 receptions for 1,278 yards and 13 touchdowns last year. He became UConn’s first-ever First-Team All-American, per Dane Brugler, after the historic year.
He’s fast and has solid route-running skills. He’s best after the catch, where he uses his fluidity and sharp cuts to create space. Bell would come in and compete with Luke McCaffrey and others for the Commanders’ slot receiver position.
Bell could be one of the best picks of Day 2 if he works out. However, there’s a lot to talk about when it comes to the reasons why he wouldn’t work out.
For starters, drops have been an issue for Bell throughout his entire career. He has 24 drops and 24 receiving touchdowns, which is wild to think about. His worst year came in 2024 where he dropped eight pass attempts. His drops nearly doubled the amount of touchdowns he caught that season (5).
Granted, Bell recorded a career-low four drops last year (he played in just one game during his true freshman season). Still, receivers that have drop issues typically don’t ever get to a point where they’re “cured”. It’s a lot like quarterbacks and accuracy – what you see is what you get. Unless you’re Josh Allen, of course.
Then, there’s the fact Bell’s best years didn’t come until he faced lesser competition at UConn. He caught a combined 68 passes for 740 yards and six touchdowns over the course of three games at Wisconsin. Once Bell landed at UConn, he racked up a combined 151 receptions for 2,130 yards and 18 touchdowns.
How will Bell perform against the toughest competition in the world? He has a lot of the necessary traits to have success, but that doesn’t always translate.
Especially when a player is limited like Bell. He’s not a big receiver, at all, and he has issues with getting to ball when things start getting murky. He’s not going to be a possession guy and will have to get schemed open more often than not. Meaning, he’s less likely to go out and simply beat a guy on his own. While he’ll be able to do that on some occasions, he’ll need help, mostly.
Lastly, Bell is widely regarded as a fourth-round pick. Taking him early in Round 3 would be a bit high, but the Commanders can’t help it, as they don’t have a fourth-rounder. Regardless, it’d be a big reach to take him at 71, even if they know he won’t be there by the time they pick in Round 5.
Again, there’s a lot to like with Bell, but there’s a lot to be wary of. It’ll be interesting to see how Day 2 plays out for the Commanders.
