With their final pick in the 2024 NFL draft, the New England Patriots selected tight end Jaheim Bell out of Florida State (also played for South Carolina).
Between the two schools, Bell appeared in 42 games and recorded 95 receptions for 1,260 yards and nine touchdowns. He showed extreme versatility that allowed him to line up in the slot, in line and in the backfield.
Now, in New England, Bell will be fighting for a role in Alex Van Pelt's offense alongside Hunter Henry Austin Hooper, Mitchell Wilcox and La'Michael Pettway. The rookie will have to do everything that's asked of him and more in order to get opportunities.
Just what are the Patriots getting in Bell? Senior Bowl director Jim Nagy recently shared his thoughts about Bell's abilities with ESPN's Mike Reiss.
"He is a sturdy guy on contact, but he's not going to be an 'iso' hammerhead blow-you-up lead blocker back there. But he's certainly a couple notches above, athletically, most fullbacks," Nagy said. "So just the ability to get in space, adjust and get a body on people and really sustain contact, he's going to be able to do that. So he can be an immediate special teams contributor, a developmental fullback, and then the immediate role is in the pass game where you can deploy him in the slot, move him around, motion him, and even put him in the backfield where he can carry it."
However, Nagy wonders just how quickly Bell will adjust and pickup the new scheme and speed/strength at the NFL level.
"What will be interesting to see is that he has all this versatility, but it's one thing to be able to do that physically, it's another to be able to do it mentally. So how quickly can they get that out of him in his rookie year?" Nagy said. "I think that will be a big thing to key on in training camp. Is this going to be something out of the gate to start the season? Will it be more midseason? Or will it maybe be more of a redshirt season to get him up to speed in the playbook and roll it out Year 2?"
New England should have an open competition for their third tight end, and if Bell shows what he did during his collegiate career, the job will likely be his.
