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Jaheim Bell NFL Draft 2024: Scouting Report for New England Patriots TE

BR NFL Scouting Department

HEIGHT: 6'2"

WEIGHT: 244

HAND: 9 7/8"

ARM: 32 7/8"

WINGSPAN: 79 3/8"

40-YARD DASH:

3-CONE:

SHUTTLE:

VERTICAL:

BROAD:

POSITIVES

— Good speed in the open field. Can win the footrace versus linebackers and safeties.

— Above-average ability. Quick, nimble mover for the position.

— Above-average YAC threat.

— Flashes of impressive ball-tracking and flexibility to find the ball.

NEGATIVES

— Short, lean build. Cannot be a Y in the NFL.

— Very poor blocker. Regularly overwhelmed at the point of attack.

— Poor strength and physicality; struggles to shield the ball and win in traffic

2023 STATISTICS

— 13 G, 39 REC, 503 YDS (12.9 AVG), 2 TD

NOTES

— Born June 14, 2001

— 3-star recruit in South Carolina 2020 class, per 247Sports' composite rankings

— Transferred from South Carolina to Florida State in 2023

— 21 career starts

— 2023 second-team All-ACC

OVERALL

Jaheim Bell is a movable offensive piece who is only a tight end in name.

At 6'3" and 239 pounds, Bell is not a traditional on-the-ball tight end. He is more of a wing or H-back player who lines up off the ball, in the backfield and in the slot. Bell even played a little bit of running back at South Carolina in 2022.

Bell's best traits are his movement skills in space. Thanks to his lean build, he's a quick, comfortable athlete in the open field. He glides across the field and has a relatively threatening top speed, making him useful on crossers, wheels and seam routes.

Bell can make some plays with the ball in his hands, too. He isn't a creative or explosive ball-carrier, but he changes direction fairly well and flashes some decent contact balance.

With all of that being said, Bell has some serious issues linked to size and strength.

Bell is unplayable as a blocker by NFL standards right now. He lacks the physical demeanor you want, and he far too often gets blown up at the point of attack. Bell has some use as a moving blocker in space, but he can not be a point man in any run scheme.

Likewise, Bell struggles to win with physicality at the top of routes. That is only exacerbated by his short arms. Bell will likely struggle to fill the "security blanket" aspect of tight end play.

Bell is an interesting idea for coaches who want an athletic H-back with receiving skills. However, it's hard to imagine Bell sticking as a starting tight end given his size and strength limitations.

GRADE: 6.0 (High-Level Developmental Prospect — 5th Round)

OVERALL RANK: 170

POSITION RANK: TE9

PRO COMPARISON: Stephen Anderson

Written by B/R NFL Scout Derrik Klassen

Visit B/R's NFL Scouting Department hub for scouting reports on all of the top prospects.

   

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