49ers pre-draft meeting: Michigan WR Ronnie Bell

According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 in Houston, former Michigan wide receiver Ronnie Bell is garnering significant pre-draft interest. The wideout met with the San Francisco 49ers, among other teams, at his pro day.

“He had a lunch meeting with the Patriots following his Pro Day and dinner with the Saints the night before the workout in addition to meeting with the 49ers and Seattle Seahawks at his Pro Day and 10 Zoom meetings,” wrote Wilson.

Bell registered a team-high 62 receptions for 889 yards and four touchdowns through 14 game appearances as a senior in 2022, per Sports Reference, being named the Wolverines’ Offensive Skill Player of the Year. He caught 145 passes for 2,269 yards with nine touchdowns through his five collegiate seasons, missing most of the 2021 season after suffering a torn ACL in the season-opener.

Bell is from Kansas City, MO. He earned a pre-draft grade of 5.85 from NFL.com, which equates to an “average backup or special-teams player,” per the site’s 8-point grading scale.

At the NFL Scouting Combine, the 6-0 and 191-pound Bell had a 40-time of 4.54 seconds, a vertical jump of 38.5 inches, a broad jump of 120 inches, a 6.98-second three-cone drill time, 14 reps in the bench press, and a 20-yard shuttle time of 4.15 seconds. His other measurables include an arm length of 31 inches and hands measuring 9 1/2 inches.

“True Michigan Man, displaying the competitive spirit and work ethic expected inside the program,” wrote NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zierlein in his scouting report of the receiver. “Bell made it back in 2022 after sustaining an ACL tear in 2021, but he still looked a little passive getting in and out of breaks at times. His surprisingly low contested catch total is a bit deceiving, as the tape shows some incredible near-catches at challenging angles. So, his ball skills are a strength. He can catch what is thrown to him but might need to do it against zone or with help from scheme, as he potentially lacks the separation traits to get open consistently on the next level.”