Position: Tight End
Height: 6′-1″
Weight: 244 pounds
School: Florida State
2024 NFL Draft: Jaheim Bell Scouting Report
At 6’1″ and 244 pounds, Bell is not your typical tight end. He often plays as a H-back or slot receiver due to his exceptional movement skills and agility in open space. Bell is great at running multiple route concepts and can make plays after the catch, thanks to his excellent change of direction and contact balance. However, Bell’s size and strength limitations make him ineffective as an on-the-ball tight end by NFL standards, which presents significant challenges in blocking situations. His occasional concentration drops and shorter stature for a tight-end position are areas of concern. These must be addressed to develop him into a reliable receiver at the next level.
Strengths
- He’s a versatile tight end with natural athleticism who can be used across the formation and plays like a jumbo receiving back;
- Jaheim Bell’s speed is a threat to the defense as he quickly changes direction and can gain distance from defenders down the field;
- Jaheim Bell is an elite threat for yards after the catch. He has good lateral agility and the burst to pull away from defenders. Bell is like a boulder rolling down the hill and a bully on the field;
- Bell has a good understanding of zone coverage. His hips are fluid enough to allow him to throttle down quickly in zone soft spots;
- Jaheim Bell is a natural hands receiver. Strong hands when catching in traffic. He snags the ball out of the air with ease;
- Vs. 2024. Draft Tight Ends: Yards per Route Run: 1.96 (7th), Yards Career Yards per Reception: 13.4 (5th), Yards After the Catch: 8.1 (2nd).
Weaknesses
- Jaheim Bell’s strong, natural hands have been inconsistent, resulting in too many dropped passes and difficulty making catches;
- His unconventional build may challenge his fit as a standard NFL tight end. Draft capital matters to ensure commitment to his development;
- Jaheim Bell rounds off too many of his routes. He’s a route runner without nuance;
- He needs to be more physical, especially in traffic and at the top of routes. He shows inconsistent effort on plays;
- Jaheim had a limited route tree and needs significant development in the playbook;
- Vs. 2024. Draft Tight Ends: Per Team Pass Attempt: 1.16 (11th).
NFL Comparison: Evan Engram
Teams With Need At Position: Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints, San Francisco 49ers, Carolina Panthers, New England Patriots
Projection: Round 5
Bottom Line on Jaheim Bell
Jaheim Bell is a tight end who is most effective when free from the line, playing as a big slot or halfback. He is an elite yards-after-catch threat as a tight end. Bell has excellent speed for his size and possesses the burst to pull away from defenders. He accelerates well when running downhill. Bell is a strong ball carrier but needs more consistency in his hands and nuance in his game as a receiver and blocker.
Jaheim Bell has a unique playing style and specific strengths that make him a limited role player at the next level. However, if he measures well and tests well, he has the potential to be a valuable asset to a team with a coach who has a plan for utilizing his strengths in the offense. He needs to get good draft capital so that there is a development for his role-specific abilities. Although he might not make an immediate impact, his versatility and athleticism to play the big slot position could make him an impactful player.
Main Image: Vasha Hunt-USA TODAY Sports
