One prospect the Denver Broncos have been showing interest in and could select in the middle rounds of the 2026 NFL Draft is Miami offensive tackle. He is a massive 6-9, 346-pound offensive tackle who is viewed as one of the more intriguing blockers in this draft. The Athletic’s lead draft analyst, Dane Brugler, has Bell ranked as his 10th-best offensive tackle in the 2026 NFL Draft and has a 3rd-4th round grade on him.
Bell’s road to the NFL started at Holmes Community College, where he played for
two seasons before graduating and becoming a four-star JUCO recruit. He committed to Miami, where he spent the past two seasons and appeared in a total of 29 games, with 21 of those games being starts. He was a standout left tackle at Holmes Community College and continued playing left tackle at Miami, where he was also a standout player. He made the Third-team All-ACC in 2025 while also making the CSC Academic All-American, Second Team as well. Bell was a key part of the Miami Hurricanes 2025 team that made it to the National Championship Game and was also later invited to the Senior Bowl.
The Broncos have Garett Bolles and Mike McGlinchey locked in as starters, but Bolles will be 34 years old, and McGlinchey will be 31 and nearing the end of his contract. After not drafting an offensive tackle since 2017, when they selected Bolles in the first round, could this be the year they finally draft an offensive tackle? Markel Bell is a massive prospect with an intriguing blend of size, length, athleticism, and traits, but he will need some development.
Player Profile
Markel Bell | Offensive Tackle | Miami
- Height: 6-9
- Weight: 349 pounds (Pro Day)
- Arm Length: 36 3/8 inches
- Wingspan: 87 1/8 inches
- Hand Size: 9 inches
- 40-time: 5.36 seconds
- 10-Yard Split: 1.84 seconds
Film Room
Scouting Report
Strengths
- Massive size and length – 6-9, nearly 350 pounds, nearly 37-inch arms, and an 87-inch wingspan
- Arm Length – Uses his long arms to get to defenders early and keep them from getting to the QB
- Strong hands, and once he has you, he eliminates you from the play
- Despite his size, he moves pretty well
- Pass blocking – Plays wide and makes it nearly impossible for defenders to get around him – Uses his long arms to hit them with a stiff punch before they can reach him – and excels as a pass blocker
- Uses his size, strength, and power to move defenders in the run game
- Surprisingly mobile and moves well on the move and in the screen game
- Good character, smart, and is an ascending player who went from JUCO to playing the National Championship Game in two years
Weaknesses
- Like most tall OTs, his length could be a weakness – Speedy edge benders could give him some trouble
- High pad level, can play too tall, and may struggle with leverage due to his size
- Weight and body makeup could be a concern
- Still kinda raw and inexperienced – only one full season as a starter – former JUCO player – and needs to work on his technique
- Had 6 false starts this past season
- Only started at LT, so there will be questions about his versatility
What other analysts are saying about Miami OT Markel Bell
The Athletic’s lead draft analyst, Dane Brugler, on Miami OT Markel Bell
Bell is a towering, top-heavy blocker who can engulf defenders with his initial movements and massive wingspan. His technical skill continues to mature with additional reps, although savvy rushers can attack his leverage and quickly force him into recovery mode. His average knee bend shows when trying to dig out defenders, but he has enough quickness to cover up in the run game. Bell is high cut and faces some disadvantages because of how he is built, but he compensates with his length and ascending awareness, which suggests he has NFL starts in his future. His performance in 2025 forced NFL scouts to reevaluate both his ceiling and floor.
NFL.com’s draft analyst Lance Zierlein on Miami OT Markel Bell
Mountainous tackle with rare physical attributes that work both in his favor and against him depending on the situation. There is no escaping a high center of gravity, which will impact his ability to change direction in protection and create consistent engagement as a run blocker. Bell must play in a gap-scheme attack to minimize his limitations. He has exceptional length that he puts to good use in finding static pass rushers and offering shade to the pocket. NFL edge speed and sudden inside moves could be an evergreen issue for Bell, but with coaching he could learn to mitigate those issues with his length. He has Day 3 value but might have a firm ceiling on his upside.
Should the Broncos draft Miami OT Markel Bell in the middle rounds of the 2026 NFL Draft?
If they value his size, length, and potential, then it makes sense. There aren’t many humans on the planet who are 6-9, 350 pounds, with 37-inch arms who also have some level of athleticism. If you can continue to develop that player, get them into a little bit better shape, you may have a dominant left tackle in the making.
Bell is a left tackle who excels at pass blocking, but needs to continue developing his overall game. He only has one full year of starting experience and went from JUCO to Miami in a short time. He’s far from a finished product, but he did show real growth this past season. With Garett Bolles turning 34 years old this upcoming season, the Broncos need to start planning for the future at the position. They will be paying quarterback Bo Nix probably $45 to $50 million dollars per year in the near future, so you will need to continue building this offensive line for the present and the future.
Bell could serve as the Broncos’ swing tackle in the short-term, but will need to learn to play right tackle, and come in and use his size/power to help the Broncos’ run game in short yardage and goal line situations. Down the line, he could be a potential replacement for Bolles or McGlinchey.
