You won’t see many humans, ever, who compare to the sheer size of 6-foot-9, 346-pound University of Miami offensive tackle Markel Bell — the fact that he is just getting better every day only adds to the mythos.
The Philadelphia Eagles, who could very well need another offensive tackle after the 2026 season if Lane Johnson retires, are showing a high level of interest in Bell — nicknamed “The Human Skyscraper” — ahead of the 2026 NFL draft.
“Source: The Philadelphia Eagles are hosting Miami OT Markel Bell for a 30 visit,” NFL reporter Ryan Fowler wrote on his official X account. “Massive ballplayer at 6’9”, 346 lbs with 36 3/8 on the arm — 6th longest ever measured at the combine. Didn’t allow a single sack in 558 pass pro snaps in ‘25.”
Markel Bell Helped Lead Canes to CFP Title Game
Not only did Bell not allow a sack in 2025, but he was also part of the group that essentially brought the Miami program back to life by leading them to a surprise appearance in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game.
Bell has received massive praise for his improvement over the last 2 years with Miami after spending his first 2 college seasons at Holmes (Mississippi) Community College.
“Mountainous tackle with rare physical attributes that work both in his favor and against him depending on the situation,” NFL draft analyst Lance Zierlein wrote. ” … 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.”
Bell got a pretty deft mentorship over his final 2 seasons at Miami as well, not only learning from head coach and former Miami offensive tackle Mario Cristobal, who won 2 national championships playing for the Hurricanes, but also from offensive line guru Alex Mirabal.
At 5-foot-4, the sight of Mirabal teaching Bell about the finer points of playing offensive line was pretty incredible.
“He’s a little firecracker,’’ Bell told The Miami Herald about Mirabal. “He’s good. He knows what he’s talking about. That’s what I love.’’
‘Starter Upside’ for Markel Bell Wherever He Lands
There might not be a better situation in the NFL for Bell to step into than in Philadelphia, where he could get a season learning from a pair of NFL All-Pro offensive tackles in 6-foot-8, 365-pound Jordan Mailata and 6-foot-6, 325-pound future Hall of Famer Lane Johnson before he ascends to a starting role.
Johnson, who will turn 36 years old in May, is almost certainly headed into his final NFL season in 2026.
“Markel Bell is a towering, light-footed tackle prospect, who maximizes his length to cast a wide net in pass protection and active feet to displace defenders in the run game,” Bleacher Report’s Brandon Thorn wrote in his pre-draft evaluation. “Bell’s upright style and solid, though not great overall athletic ability, cap his ceiling. However, his size and skill-level signal a high-quality swing tackle with starter upside.”
Eagles Host 6-foot-9, 346-Pound ‘Human Skyscraper’ on Pre-Draft Visit