Cowboys 30-visit WR named by CFB coaches as elite sleeper pick
College football coaches named several players who are going to outshine their draft slot, and a possible Cowboys target was on the list.
As the media coverage surrounding Dallas' 2026 NFL Draft continues to focus on the defensive side of the football, the Cowboys have quietly been meeting with playmakers on the offensive side. One such player is Louisville receiver Chris Bell, who college coaches have labeled a sleeper in this year's draft. ESPN's Adam Rittenberg polled 30 CFB coaches to find players they consider "sleeper picks" on the second and third days of the draft.
Bell, whom the Cowboys have met with as one of their allotted 30 pre-draft visits, is one of the receivers who made the list, and for good reason. At 6-foot-2, 222 pounds, and 4. 4-second 40-yard dash speed, Bell is every bit the physical specimen teams covet in a receiver, with the bonus of coming from a pro-style college football offense.
His football IQ, paired with his physical abilities, allowed him to amass 151 receptions for 2,166 yards and 12 touchdowns during his four years in Louisville. One ACC coach went on to praise Bell, adding, "He was the best receiver in our league. He's a guy that, without the injuries, is definitely a top-80 pick.
" That injury, a late-season ACL tear on November 22, 2025, against SMU, caused Bell's stock to drop considerably. If not for that injury, Bell could be taken much earlier than he's projected to be now. But it all depends on the health of that knee, and if Dallas is actually coming into this draft looking for players who can contribute immediately or blowing smoke, but Bell's potential might be too hard to pass up on Day 2.