The 2026 NFL Draft is just weeks away, taking place on Thursday, April 23, and continuing until Saturday, April 25. Louisville football fans are excited to watch for several reasons, but the main one is their star wide receiver, Chris Bell.
Louisville's Chris Bell makes feelings clear on possible reunion with Tyler Shough
The former Cardinal was one of the top wide receivers in the NFL Draft, but after tearing his ACL in the SMU game, he fell to the second or third round. NFL Insider Jordan Schultz reported there is a real chance Bell can still be selected in the first round, but ESPN has since released two mock drafts, and both have him going in the third round
In the latest ESPN mock draft, while Louisville fans may have been disappointed with Bell falling to the third round, they get their dream scenario as Mel Kiper, Field Yates, and Jordan Reid predict the star receiver to be selected by the New Orleans Saints in the third round, meaning Bell and Tyler Shough would team up once again.
ESPN predicts Chris Bell and Tyler Shough to team up once again
Louisville fans are hoping Bell will break the Cardinals' five-year drought without a first-round pick, as the last Cardinal to be selected in the first round was Mekhi Becton by the New York Jets with the No. 11 overall pick. However, if Bell doesn’t break that drought, the next thing Cardinals fans are rooting for is Bell to be selected by the Saints.
Bell has talked multiple times about wanting to team up with Shough, and the Cards fans are hoping this mock draft is right. Seeing a Louisville Cardinal connection at the NFL level would be a dream come true for the fans, as Shough and Bell played with each other in the 2024 season.
In 2024, Louisville went 9-4, and Bell caught 43 passes for 737 yards and four touchdowns, while Shough threw for 3,195 yards on a 62.7 percent completion rate. Now, the two have a real chance of teaming up again at the NFL level, and Bell has made it clear he would love to play with his former college QB.
“He's been telling me he wants me so bad,” Tuesday in an interview. “And he’s been pushing my name, so hopefully. Hopefully.”
Shough won the QB1 job in the middle of the season over Spencer Rattler last year when he led the Saints with a 5-4 record in their last nine games. He was a Rookie of the Year finalist after throwing for 2,384 yards and completing 67.8 percent of his passes, while rushing for 186 yards and three touchdowns. ESPN has Bell being selected No. 73 overall and as the No. 9 pick in the third round.
Related: Louisville's Chris Bell makes it crystal clear he wants to reunite with Tyler Shough
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