Chance to succeed Landry entices rookie slot receiver

Browns coach Kevin Stefanski felt compelled to remind Chief Strategy Officer Paul DePodesta something important during the NFL Draft.

The message had this vibe: David Bell no matter what.

DePodesta revealed on the team’s radio network on draft weekend that Stefanski had texted him midway through the second round about a desire to select Bell in the third round at No. 99 overall.

It all came to fruition, and Bell has vowed not to take Stefanski’s faith for granted.

“To have the coach’s trust, I know I’m going to have to continue to build that out here making plays, how I walk through the facility and how I treat people,” Bell said Friday during rookie minicamp.

When Bell arrived at team headquarters in Berea the day after he had been drafted, Stefanski

told him he had also urged General Manager Andrew Berry to secure Bell.

“You were the first guy I watched, and right away, I was like, ‘We need to get this guy,’” Stefanski told Bell in a meeting

DAVID DERMER / AP The Browns targeted receiver David Bell in the draft despite a lack of speed that knocked him into the third round.