Jaheim Bell | Florida State 6’3” 238 lbs. 06/14/2001 (Age 22)
Jaheim Bell was drafted 231st overall by the New England Patriots, becoming the 11th tight end and 231st overall player in the 2024 NFL Draft.
COLLEGE PRODUCTION
| Year | Games Played | Receptions | Yards | Yards/Catch | TDs |
| 2020 (FR) | 5 | 1 | 29 | 29.0 | 0 |
| 2021 (SO) | 13 | 30 | 497 | 16.6 | 5 |
| 2022 (JR) | 12 | 25 | 231 | 9.2 | 2 |
| 2023 (JR) | 13 | 39 | 503 | 12.9 | 2 |
After three decent seasons in South Carolina, playing both running back and tight end, the “do-it-all” playmaker carved out a great role in his lone season at Florida State. He hauled in 39 receptions for 503 yards and two touchdowns. Although his two receiving touchdowns weren’t eye-popping, he got dragged down on the one-yard line on two separate occasions. Bell entered the 2023 season on the Mackey Award watch list, and he enters the 2024 NFL Draft as a top-10 player in his position.
FILM
STRENGTHS
Dynamic with the ball in his hands, especially for a tight end. Made a lot of plays with his feet, as he produced great YAC numbers. Can line up in several areas on the field, as he’s a threat both as a runner and receiver. Creates momentum and finishes through contact. Showcases toughness. Great pass-catcher through traffic, as he often comes down with reception while taking a hit at the same time. Has great speed, which will test secondaries often at the pro level.
WEAKNESSES
Below average size for his position. Catch radius and hands are a tad below average. Has shown to take plays off, and often turns to his quarterback instead of engaging in his route fully. Tight hips, which will be the biggest thing he needs to work on as a route runner. Shows promise as a blocker but often fails to finish his assignment toward the end of plays.
ATHLETIC TESTING
At the NFL combine, Bell measured in at 6’2” and 241 lbs, which equates to a BMI of 31. He ran a decent 4.61 40-yard dash, equating to a 103.4-speed score (74th percentile). Bell also displayed a 123.3 burst score (79th percentile) and a college dominator score of 16.9 percent.
Bell showcased solid leaping abilities with a 35” vertical and a 126” broad jump. At his position, he finished third in the 40-yard dash out of 11 tight ends. And his 1.58-second 10-yard split was good enough to land him fourth out of that same group. His biggest red flag would be his size, as he stands a bit short for his position. He also needs to improve his strength, especially if he wants to carve out a role at the pro level.
DRAFT ANALYSIS
Rapid Reaction to Draft Capital: Good
Rapid Reaction to Landing Spot: Poor
Bell was selected with the 231st overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots.
New England snagged a good amount of rookie offensive skilled players, as Bell joins Ja’Lynn Polk, Javon Baker, Joe Milton, and Drake Maye. It’s hard to imagine Bell carving out any type of prominent role, as both Hunter Henry and Austin Hooper look to produce as this team’s top two tight ends in 2024. If all goes well, Bell could see a larger role during his second season and beyond.
FANTASY INSIGHTS
I had a sixth-round grade on Bell, and he was my seventh-ranked tight end. He slipped past that mark, and his landing spot wasn’t that ideal. Bell will be buried on the depth chart behind Henry and Hooper. And the New England offense will need time to develop before we can imagine Maye doing enough to produce multiple fantasy-relevant pass-catchers on this team.
Don’t worry about drafting Bell in your rookie drafts. If you want to add him after the draft and throw him on your taxi squad, go ahead. But he isn’t worth a draft selection. He’s undersized and his landing spot is not great. Things could’ve been different if he landed in a better spot.
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