3 ways the Patriots can maximize Jaheim Bell's potential 

In 1940, the famous plane crash survivor and alleged KGB spy Ernest Hemmingway published “For Whom the Bell Tolls.” Eighty-four years later, a Bell tolls for the Patriots. That Bell answers to the name Jaheim.  

Early in the draft process, Bell was expected to be a second-round pick. However, as the draft approached, he fell to a fifth-round prospect, so how the Patriots snagged him in the seventh round will forever remain a mystery. 

The former South Carolina Gamecock and Florida State Seminole caught 95 passes during his four-year college career. He racked up 1,260 yards, averaging a healthy 13.3 yards per reception. That’s only 2.3 yards less than Patriots’ second-round pick Ja’Lynn Polk averaged in college!  

Bell isn’t just a pass catcher, though. During his college career, he was also a prolific threat out of the backfield, so much so that he even played as a running back for the Gamecocks. He accrued 84 rushing attempts in four years, averaging a modest 3.6 yards per carry, but he did find the endzone four times. He even returned a kick while playing in South Carolina, but the Patriots already have plenty of kick-return options. 

His performance at the Combine saw him score an 8.45 RAS (relative athletic score). He lost out in the height and weight categories, but his composite speed score was rated “elite,” and his explosion grade was “great.”

However, Bell’s comparative lack of height works in his favor as a ball carrier. He’s a low-center-of-gravity guy, like a Maurice Jones-Drew or Devin Singletary type (but way bigger). A low center of gravity makes it very difficult for defenders to match his pad level when they attempt to tackle him or are trying to beat his blocks. 

NFL NextGen rated the former high school wide receiver as the fifth most athletic player in the 2024 tight end class. But that doesn’t mean the Patriots should use him exclusively at the tight end position. In fact, with veterans Hunter Henry, Austin Hooper, and Mitchell Wilcox all on the roster, opportunities will be limited. 

Bell would be wasted as the Patriots’ fourth-string tight end, though. His versatility will add an extra dimension to the offense, and Alex Van Pelt should embrace it. Having someone who can perform in many positions will make the quarterback’s job easier, too, provided they can recognize a loaded box when they see one.

So, how can the Patriots ensure they make the most of Bell’s talent? 

3 ways the Patriots can maximize Jaheim Bell's potential: Line him up as a lead blocker 

In a previous life, when Van Pelt was the Packers’ running backs coach, one of the backs he worked with was John Kuhn, a fullback. It's a position that is almost extinct nowadays, with the only exceptions being Andrew Beck and Kyle Juszczyk, who are featured in their offenses regularly.  

Most teams don’t employ a fullback because they can’t find a player who is good enough and will improve their offense. But the Patriots might have done just that. Bell is similar to Juszczyk, with Bell being just six pounds heavier. His 40-yard-dash time at the Combine was also 0.10 seconds faster than Juszczyk’s in 2013.

So, he's essentially like a bigger and faster version of Juszczyk? What's not to like?

It’s safe to say Bell wasn’t an elite run blocker during his time in South Carolina. Pro Football Focus graded his blocking at 40.0 (that’s not good). After one season in Tallahassee, he had improved to 60.4! While he’s still a work in progress, he’ll be fine if he continues with that sort of exponential improvement. 

Even if Van Pelt doesn’t use him as a lead blocker, lining up in the “I formation” with Bell ahead of a feature back will still work. It would open up the play-action passing game and allow the quarterback to audible. Splitting Bell out as a tight end or even as a receiver will allow the signal caller to better identify zone coverages. 

Bell notably worked as an unconventional lead blocker at FSU. Instead of leading the way for a running back, Bell cleared a path for his quarterback, Jordan Travis. He also lined up at h-back and running back as part of a dual running back formation.

If he is comfortable in all those roles, it would be silly not to utilize him in them. 

3 ways the Patriots can maximize Jaheim Bell's potential: Out of the backfield 

So, he lined up as a fullback and in a two-back set at college. He even started four games as a running back during the 2022 season in South Carolina, but Bell probably won’t spend much time as the feature back in New England.  

The Patriots have six players who can fill that role. But few are as adept at catching passes out of the backfield as the 22-year-old. If the Patriots feel creative in 2024, they’ll line up Bell as a h-back. 

Getting the ball out of the quarterback's hands quickly will be critical to the Patriots success in 2024. Lining up with a h-back would provide the quarterback with a pass-catching option in the flat and add an extra blocker behind what looks to be a porous offensive line.

Two rookie quarterbacks may also make the 53-man roster, so lining up in formations traditionally used in college may help expedite their transition. 

Some analysts have questioned Bell’s pass-catching technique; they worry that he might be a bit of a body-catcher. But even his critics concede that his ability to track the ball's flight is rare. His strength and athleticism also mean he hauls in passes even when he is covered tightly by physical defenders. 

3 ways the Patriots can maximize Jaheim Bell's potential: Line him up in the slot 

His pass-catching ability is exemplified by the fact he lined up as a wide receiver during 100 snaps of his college career. The Patriots have six players competing to line up outside, though (seven if Kayshon Boutte’s legal issues are resolved).  

But Bell could well feature in the slot; he spent 381 snaps there during his college career. Javon Baker, Juju Smith-Schuster, and Demario Douglas will all be battling it out for snaps as the Patriots’ slot receiver. But none bring what Bell does: 241 pounds of tackle-breaking muscle. 

At Florida State, Bell lined up as a receiver and scored on a jet sweep, bouncing the only defender in a position to stop him straight into the endzone. He will be a unique weapon in the red zone. During his lone season at FSU, Bell lined up in the slot for 44.3% of his snaps. When his college quarterbacks targeted him in the passing game, they had a 117.7 passer rating.

But it’s not just his ability as a playmaker that will make him a key part of the Patriots' offense. Bell's run-blocking will also be helpful when he lines up in the slot. In an offense that should see the running backs do a lot of the heavy lifting, screen passes, and outside zone runs should be the foundation of New England's 2024 offense.

If his run blocking continues to improve, Van Pelt can use him as he used Cedric Tillman in the 2023 Browns offense. 

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