The Buffalo Bills already have a new headliner in DJ Moore, but another name is starting to push its way into the conversation before the 2026 season even kicks off. Rookie wideout Skyler Bell has been turning heads, and the way the Bills are talking about him suggests he may not be waiting long for real playing time.
Buffalo’s offense, led by Joe Brady, is about to run into the best defense in the league this Sunday against the Houston Texans. The unit has changed this offseason, too, with Moore arriving as the new No. 1 receiver and giving the Bills a much-needed outside threat who can help ease pressure on the rest of the passing game.
Still, Bell is the player generating some buzz inside the building.
The Bills took Bell in the fourth round of this year’s NFL Draft out of UConn, and his value is obvious: he can line up outside or inside and gives the offense another piece it can move around. That kind of flexibility matters, especially when a coordinator wants options instead of forcing one role on a young receiver.
Bills offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael Jr. explained what Bell brings to the table, saying he can "line up in multiple positions" and that "he's shown himself to be a guy who can help us win this year." said Carmichael, per Andy Young of Spectrum News 1.
#Bills OC Pete Carmichael on rookie WR Skyler Bell:
"He can run. He's smart.
He can line up in multiple positions...he's shown himself to be a guy who can help us win this year." #BillsMafia
- Andy Young (@AndyYoungTV) September 10, 2026
Bell’s path is different from what Keon Coleman faced in 2024. He doesn’t have to be dropped straight into the role of immediate top option for Josh Allen, which gives the Bills room to bring him along while still finding ways to use him.
Even with missed time in the first two preseason games, Bell made his presence felt in the finale against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He caught 7 passes for 49 yards on 10 targets, and he also flashed another layer to his game on a jet sweep, racing 28 yards for a touchdown that got Buffalo back into the game.
That kind of usage is exactly why he’s getting attention. Bell isn’t just a depth receiver waiting around for an injury to open the door. He’s the sort of versatile piece Buffalo can plug in right away, rotate through the offense, and use to stretch what Brady can call.
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