INDIANAPOLIS — Tyler Shough wants his guy. Badly. The New Orleans Saints quarterback isn’t waiting for the front office to solicit his opinion ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft. He is actively lobbying head coach Kellen Moore to target his former Louisville teammate, Chris Bell. Bell terrorized ACC secondaries last fall, ripping off 72 receptions for 917 yards and six touchdowns before suffering a torn ACL on November 22 against SMU. Now, as the NFL Scouting Combine overtakes Lucas Oil Stadium, the potential reunion between a rising franchise quarterback and a true X-receiver stands as the most compelling storyline for New Orleans.
Rebuilding the Louisville Connection
You could feel the shift in the Superdome atmosphere the moment Shough took control of the offense last season. The 26-year-old rookie operated Moore’s system with striking precision, finishing the year with 2,384 passing yards, 10 touchdowns, and a sharp 91.3 passer rating over 10 games. He won December/January NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month honors by aggressively attacking the middle of the field and keeping defenses completely off balance.
Now, he wants a familiar weapon on the boundary. Bell brings raw power. Standing 6-foot-2 and weighing 220 pounds, the wideout bullied defensive backs off the line of scrimmage in college. Smaller corners bounce off him at the catch point. Bigger defenders lose the foot race once he builds momentum. Walking the halls of Lucas Oil Stadium this week, the chatter among scouts is clear: Bell possesses absolute WR1 tools. Bell’s journey from a devastating late-season injury to confidently commanding the Combine podium proves his mental toughness. The injury simply provides a massive discount for a smart franchise willing to trust the medicals.
“Man, it would be great. I’ve been talking to Tyler Shough since this process started. He said he’s been telling the Saints about me, he hopes they get me. He said they need somebody like me so it would be great to reunite with Tyler Shough.”
— Chris Bell, Louisville Wide Receiver
Playoff Implications / What’s Next
The Saints hold the No. 8 overall pick in April. Moore and the front office are heavily linked to Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love as the immediate heir to Alvin Kamara. That reality pushes Bell perfectly into their Day 2 crosshairs. Dr. Dan Cooper, who performed the surgery on Bell’s knee, projects the receiver will return by training camp.
If New Orleans grabs Love in the first round and secures Bell in the second or third, Moore instantly transforms a stagnant offense into an explosive unit. Drafting Bell bypasses the usual rookie learning curve; he and Shough already share elite timing and chemistry from their 2024 season together at Louisville. Adding Bell gives the Saints a heavy, physical target who can win one-on-one matchups when the NFC South division races get tight in December.
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- Saints Draft Capital: Pick No. 8 overall, plus active Day 2 selections.
- Medical Timeline: Bell begins running this month, targeting a July return.
- Scheme Fit: Bell perfectly matches the X-receiver profile required in Kellen Moore’s vertical passing attack.