The 2026 NFL Draft is creeping up on fans much quicker than some realize, as ESPN and Matt Miller just released their first NFL mock draft. The 2026 NFL Draft will take place in Pittsburgh, Pa., from April 23 through April 26. One name that is rising in mock drafts and becoming more likely to be a first-round pick is Louisville football's Chris Bell.
The Cardinals' wide receiver is a semifinalist for the Biletnikoff Award and has been nothing but dominant in his junior season. Entering the 2025 season, David Pollack and a few others said he was a game-changer and an elite playmaker, but not many thought he would be a first-round pick.
Well, after 12 weeks of college football, Miller released his first NFL mock draft, and he has Bell sneaking in the first round and being drafted by the New England Patriots, pairing him up with one of the frontrunners for this year's MVP, Drake Maye.
Related: Louisville's rising superstar just shot up Mel Kiper's updated NFL Draft Big Board
ESPN's 2026 NFL mock draft has Chris Bell heading to the New England Patriots
With Maye taking a massive leap this season, the Patriots want to keep giving him elite options. And while they do have Stefon Diggs, he is 31 years old, and the Patriots will need some elite playmakers on the outside for the future. The Pats are 9-2 through 11 weeks of football, and are set to be a dominant team in the future with Maye at quarterback.
Pairing Maye and Bell together would be a perfect match for this offense, as at 6-foot-2, 225 pounds, the Cardinals' wide receiver has breakaway speed that is mind-blowing, and he likes to play physical in the red zone.
"Quarterback Drake Maye is an MVP candidate despite a relatively anonymous set of wide receivers. And while Mack Hollins and Stefon Diggs are viable veteran options, the team must prioritize developing young starters. Bell represents the same type of physical mismatch that Hollins provides. At 6-2 and 227 pounds, most cornerbacks can't keep their hands on Bell. And from the slot, he uses his 4.4 speed to run past safeties. Bell's development will include building up his route tree, but he's similar in that way to DK Metcalf coming out of Ole Miss."Matt Miller
Bell leads the Cards in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns. His 67 catches are ranked No. 8 in the nation, while his 871 receiving yards rank No. 12 in the country. He also has six receiving touchdowns.
Patriot fans should really go watch his film against Pitt, Virginia, and Miami. He was unstoppable, earning at least nine catches in every game and logging 441 receiving yards and five touchdowns in that three-game stretch. He showed off his speed against Miami, breaking free and scoring two touchdowns. Both touchdowns he caught in traffic, but he found a way to break free from Miami's defense and run for 31 yards after the catch into the end zone.
He also showed off his catching abilities against Virginia, where he dominated and put Louisville on his back with a ridiculous one-handed catch. He finished that game with career highs with 12 receptions, 170 receiving yards, and two touchdowns.
Bell is the perfect target for this Patriots offense, as he would bring much-needed youth to this wide receiver room while making an immediate impact.