If you don’t have a ticket for the Dillon Bell hype train, it’s time to call the station and jump on board. The Minnesota Vikings found Bell from undrafted free agency in April, and he faces a decent chance of making the regular season roster at the end of August.
Reporters sang Bell’s praises at organized team activities (OTAs). He might be the real deal.
Vikings WR Competition Has Summer Wild Card
Bell Impresses at OTAs
Among others from Eagan, SI.com‘s Will Ragatz noted Bell’s sweet performance so far.
In addition to calling out Kyler Murray’s strong start, Ragatz wrote, “The next-biggest winner might just be undrafted rookie wide receiver Dillon Bell, who was one of Murray’s favorite targets over the course of both open practices. Bell had a sequence in the May 27 practice where he caught passes from Murray on back-to-back reps in 7-on-7: an intermediate crossing route toward the sideline and then an in-breaker over the middle.”
“Then, on June 4, that same thing happened again, with Murray finding Bell for downfield chunks on two straight plays to different sides of the field. Because we only saw two of the six OTAs, it’s hard to know how productive Bell was in the other four sessions.”
A handful of draftniks called out Bell when the Vikings signed him. Those individuals look wise right about now.
“But those two sequences alone said a lot. For an undrafted rookie to earn targets from a seven-year veteran QB like Murray says that he’s running the right routes, generating separation, and being trusted to catch the ball when it arrives,” Ragatz added.
“That’s a very promising early development, and it’ll be fun to keep an eye on No. 89 at three straight open minicamp practices this week.”
Who Is He?
Bell possesses a versatile skill set, measuring 6-foot-1, 210 pounds, with a 4.50 40-yard dash time, and the ability to play multiple positions — a quality highly valued by coaches. His path to NFL staying power will hinge on his versatility. He can line up across the field, execute special plays, and serve as a genuine offensive wildcard for Minnesota if he makes the roster, much like Josh Metellus’s role on defense.
The Vikings haven’t recently prioritized “gadget” offensive players, making Bell’s potential particularly interesting. He could introduce a novel dimension to Kevin O’Connell’s offense if they can integrate him into their weekly game plan.
Minnesota also has a strong track record with undrafted free agents. Adam Thielen, a success story from 2013, and Ivan Pace Jr., who made a similar impact in 2023, are prime examples. The Vikings, too, discovered talents like C.J. Ham, Anthony Harris, Jalen Redmond, and Andrew Sendejo, among others, in the last decade. Bell doesn’t need to emulate Thielen’s career trajectory to make an impact; he simply needs to stand out this summer and earn a roster spot.
VikingsWire‘s Andrew Harbaugh noted on Bell this week, ‘During his time with the Bulldogs, Bell caught 119 passes for 1,269 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns. The Vikings have one of the deepest wide receiver rooms in the NFL, but adding someone younger and who can change things up as Bell can.”
The Roster Angle
Of course, when the Vikings signed Jauan Jennings in May, the case for a Bell roster spot diminished just a bit. Jennings is guaranteed to make the September roster, along with Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. But after those two, the plot thickens.
Between these men, Minnesota will likely keep two or three WRs after Jefferson and Addison:
- Tai Felton
- Myles Price
- Jeshaun Jones
- Dontae Fleming
- Dillon Bell
- Luke Wysong
- Michael Briscoe
- Trayvon Rudolph
- Marcus Sanders
It’s probably safe to assume that Minnesota will keep Felton and Price and call it good, but Bell cannot be ruled out if O’Connell opts for six wide receivers, especially because Price specializes in kick and punt returns.
Other Unsung Guys to Follow This Summer
Every summer has under-the-radar talent to monitor. For example, in 2025, undrafted free agents Joe Huber (guard) and Tyler Batty (outside linebacker) made the 53-man roster.
A reasonable and similar list in 2026 might look like this:
- Dillon Bell (WR)
- Bangally Kamara (ILB)
- Cam’Ron Stewart (OLB)
- Jacob Thomas (S)
- Brett Thorson (P)
Thorson is particularly fascinating because he could be an all-out summer camp battle with veteran punter Johnny Hekker. Stewart, too, fits the Vikings’ modus operandi — scooping an EDGE rusher from the undrafted market and keeping him around for the regular season. See: the aforementioned Batty and Bo Richter in 2024.
Bell will turn 23 in November.
