NFL Draft week is here, and Louisville football fans are excited to see where their star wide players are going to go. Cardinals fans know for a fact they will hear Chris Bell’s name, as the star receiver is trending toward a lock in the first three rounds, while Rene Konga is trending to a late pick, and Caullin Lacy continues to be on that bubble.
ESPN's latest mock draft gives Louisville football fans dream Chris Bell scenario
The NFL Draft is set to take place this Thursday, April 23, in Pittsburgh, Pa., at 8 p.m. ET. The Cardinals have a few players who could see their names on an NFL roster next season, but at the top of the list are Bell, Konga, and Lacy.
In ESPN’s latest mock draft, Bell continues to be a third-round pick in ESPN’s eyes as the 6-foot-2, 220-pound receiver is projected to go to the Las Vegas Raiders. ESPN’s Jordan Reid predicts Bell to be the No. 67 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, which, in this mock draft, would mean he is the No. 9 wide receiver drafted.
Louisville’s star receiver was trending towards being a first-round pick in the NFL Draft, but he tore his ACL in the second-to-last regular-season game against SMU. Now, he is hearing his name anywhere from late first round to early third.
Also, seeing his name in the mock draft is the Cardinals' dominant defensive linemen. Konga is coming off a career season in which he earned Second Team All-ACC honors after logging 29 tackles, 5.0 for loss, and 1.5 sacks. ESPN projects Konga to go in the sixth round to the Seattle Seahawks.
ESPN has Caullin Lacy going undrafted in latest mock draft
The speedy wide receiver has the potential to not only have an impact on the offense with his eye-popping speed but also to be an elite special teams player. However, after his NFL Draft Combine performance, it seems unlikely for Lacy to be drafted.
Lacy had a solid Pro Day, with his footwork and speed standing out. He showed why he can be an elite playmaker on the field for both offense and special teams. He was one of the top receivers in 2023, ranking No. eight in college football with 91 catches and No. 7 in college football with 1,316 yards. He then missed most of his first season with Louisville because of an injury, and while he wasn’t as dominant as many hoped this past season, he showed off his impressive speed.
Many believe Lacy will go undrafted, unfortunately, but because of his Pro Day, there is a much higher chance he will be signed as an undrafted free agent. Lacy finished the 2025 season with 60 catches for 635 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns. On special teams, he finished with 454 punt-return yards and two touchdowns, and 252 kick return yards.
Related: Louisville's Chris Bell makes feelings clear on possible reunion with Tyler Shough
For all the latest recruiting news and updates for Louisville football, stay tuned.
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