The Pittsburgh Steelers' Week 14 win over the Baltimore Ravens was big in more ways than one. Sure, the team took control of the AFC North, and that fact trumps any other positive outcomes from the contest, but it can't be ignored that the $30 million per year man in DK Metcalf had his best outing since September. The pass-catcher hauled in seven catches for 148 yards, helping to spark an offense that was in need of some firepower. There will continue to remain questions about who will be his partner-in-crime moving forward in the Steel City.
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Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf (4) alongside Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith as the team works out during a 2025 training camp practice at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
Aaron Rodgers continues to defy the odds at 42 years old; however, the organization will certainly be in the mix for a quarterback come the 2026 NFL Draft. The main issue Pittsburgh may run into is positioning. There are currently three franchises that also may need signal-callers that also have a hold of two first-round selections — those being the Cleveland Browns, New York Jets and Los Angeles Rams.
It'll be interesting to see how it all plays out, and it wouldn't be surprising if the Steelers don't have many options when it is General Manager Omar Khan's turn to pick in round one. That's why targeting a wide receiver may actually be a better option. With that said, Pittsburgh has found diamonds in the rough in the past, which is why a first-round talent that could end up being available on day two may be a smart option to consider.
Louisville’s Chris Bell, one of the top receiver prospects in the upcoming NFL draft, suffered a torn ACL in a game at SMU on Nov. 22, per @PeteThamel and me. In his latest mock draft, ESPN’s Field Yates projected Bell as a first-round pick.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 11, 2025
Bell is a 6-foot-2, 220-pound wide… pic.twitter.com/LsPDHQWnzG
Aside from Metcalf, the wideouts in the Steel City are not necessarily large targets. Chris Bell from the University of Louisville is exactly that at 6'2", 220 pounds. While serious knee injuries aren't as difficult to bounce back from as they once were, no one should be surprised if the Cardinals' offensive weapon slips in the draft because he won't be able to work out at the NFL Scouting Combine.
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University of Louisville wide receiver Chris Bell holds on the pigskin as he runs down the field in the hopes of scoring a touchdown during a collegiate football matchup.
Bell was recently labeled as the 32nd overall pick in Field Yates' mock draft for ESPN. While he is extremely talented, a torn ACL is not going to help his draft stock. It would be a shocking if it did not hurt him come April. The analyst touted the pass-catcher and what he will be capable of at the NFL level.
"At 6-2, 220 pounds, Bell has some of the best size of any of the touted receivers in this class. He was scorching hot in the first six games of this season, with six touchdowns and three 100-plus-yard games," Yates wrote.
Someone with the size that Bell possesses is exactly what the Steelers need on the opposite end of Metcalf. Pittsburgh's playmakers have had trouble getting separation throughout the 2025 campaign, but having someone with just as much physicality as Metcalf could work wonders for the offense, regardless of who is playing the quarterback position.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (X: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf set up at the line of scrimmage while the team gets a work out in during 2025 training camp as fans watch the annual Friday Night Lights practice in Latrobe, PA.
Steelers May Be Keeping An Eye For Bell's Potential Fall In The Draft
If Pittsburgh does decide to grab a quarterback in the first round (if the opportunity presents itself), using a second- or third-round selection on Bell would absolutely make sense. Teams are going to look away due to his recent injury, but he is a first-round talent. If he falls down draft boards and ends up playing the way he is capable of, whichever organization takes a chance will have one of the steals of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Do you think that the Steelers should pay attention to Bell in the offseason prior to the draft? Let us know in the comments below!
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