Could Dillon Bell and Elijah Williams be the Minnesota Vikings\u2019 next surprise impact players? On this episode of The Real Forno Show, Tyler Forness breaks down two under-the-radar roster players who could reshape the Vikings\u2019 depth chart heading into 2026. From a UDFA rookie wideout with a remarkable backstory to a defensive lineman who came from nowhere to earn first-team reps, Forness makes the case that these guys are no afterthought \u2014 they could be difference-makers.<\/p>\n
Forness praised Bell\u2019s versatility from his Georgia days and wildcat experience: \u201cYou can do gadgety type stuff with Dillon Bell\u2026 but I think you can develop into a really nice wide receiver.\u201d He highlighted Bell\u2019s red-zone physicality and body-shielding ability, comparing his profile to bigger-framed receivers like Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua who improved their route running. The UDFA from a tough Houston background also wants to open a homeless shelter, adding off-field appeal.<\/p>\n
On defense, Forness was bullish on sophomore Elijah Williams after reviewing film: \u201cI was very impressed\u2026 I think he can be a week one starter.\u201d He noted Williams\u2019 strength against zone blocks, hand usage, and weight gain to around 305-310 pounds, while cautioning that Caleb Banks will eventually take over. Forness framed both as potential \u201cdiamonds in the rough\u201d similar to past UDFA successes like Jalen Redmond.<\/p>\n
Or on your favorite podcast aggregator.<\/p>\n
Whether you\u2019re tracking the quarterback battle, hunting for breakout candidates, or just want honest, film-backed Vikings analysis, The Real Forno Show delivers it every week. Tyler Forness and Dave Stefano cut through the noise with the kind of depth you won\u2019t find on a hot-take reel. This is a must-listen for every serious Vikings fan heading into what could be a pivotal summer in Minnesota.<\/p>\n
So here\u2019s the question for you:<\/p>\n
What do you think \u2014 can Dillon Bell earn a roster spot and make an impact in 2026, or is this getting too far over our skis?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Could Dillon Bell and Elijah Williams be the Minnesota Vikings\u2019 next surprise impact players? On this episode of…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":715676,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[67],"tags":[399,303422,303423,303424,303426,398,396,397,99,303427],"class_list":["post-715675","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-ncaa-football","tag-football","tag-minnesota-vikings-analysis","tag-minnesota-vikings-discussion","tag-minnesota-vikings-podcasts","tag-minnesota-vikings-videos","tag-ncaa","tag-ncaa-football","tag-ncaafootball","tag-sports","tag-the-real-forno-show"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/715675","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=715675"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/715675\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/715676"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=715675"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=715675"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=715675"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}