49ers NFL Draft: Deebo Samuel replacement options in every round
By Peter Panacy
Pick Analysis. 3. 848. Scouting Report. Wide Receiver. Purdue. David Bell. player
49ers Round 3 NFL Draft Target: David Bell, Purdue
Unlike Christian Watson and Treylon Burks, Purdue wide receiver David Bell has seemingly gone in the opposite direction in terms of his draft stock.
At one point a prospect on the fringes of being a first-round pick, the 6-foot-1, 212-pound Bell is now viewed as a late day-two selection after faltering at the NFL Combine with a sluggish 4.65 40-yard time.
In fact, none of his workouts were overly promising despite having some exceptionally notable collegiate production with the Boilermakers over the last three years.
| Receiving | Rushing | Scrimmage | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | School | Conf | Class | Pos | G | Rec | Yds | Avg | TD | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | Plays | Yds | Avg | TD |
| 2019 | Purdue | Big Ten | FR | WR | 12 | 86 | 1035 | 12.0 | 7 | 3 | 12 | 4.0 | 1 | 89 | 1047 | 11.8 | 8 |
| 2020 | Purdue | Big Ten | SO | WR | 6 | 53 | 625 | 11.8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 53 | 625 | 11.8 | 8 | |
| *2021 | Purdue | Big Ten | JR | WR | 11 | 93 | 1286 | 13.8 | 6 | 3 | 39 | 13.0 | 0 | 96 | 1325 | 13.8 | 6 |
| Career | Purdue | 232 | 2946 | 12.7 | 21 | 6 | 51 | 8.5 | 1 | 238 | 2997 | 12.6 | 22 |
Provided by CFB at Sports Reference
Generated 4/25/2022.
However, that could play right into the Niners’ favor, as they’re armed with two picks towards the end of Round 3, one of them being compensatory.
Despite the falling draft stock, Bell is nevertheless talented and boasts smooth route-running tendencies that keep him from being stuck by coverage defenders. He also is prone to breaking tackles and also can thrive in the YAC department, such as Deebo Samuel did up to this point.
Late in Round 3, Bell would be worth the look.