The 2026 NFL Draft began Thursday night, with the first 32 picks selected. NFL and college football fans saw Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, the 2025 Heisman winner, selected No. 1 overall by the Las Vegas Raiders, followed by Texas Tech’s David Bailey, Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah, and Ohio State’s Carnell Tate and Arvell Reese to round out the top five.
ESPN's latest mock draft gives Louisville football fans dream Chris Bell scenario
Louisville football has a couple of players trending toward selection, but Chris Bell was the lone Cardinal with the potential to be a first-round pick. However, with Bell not being selected in the first round, Louisville football fans saw their drought without a first-round pick extend to now six years.
Louisville football’s first-round drought continues
The Cardinals fans haven’t seen a Louisville Cardinal drafted in the first round since Mekhi Becton was selected No. 11 overall by the New York Jets. Louisville has seen a pair of second-round picks, including last year with Tyler Shough, who was selected No. 40 overall by the New Orleans Saints, but it is currently in a six-year drought without a first-round pick.
Before this six-year drought, Louisville had two first-round picks in the 2018 draft when Jaire Alexander, selected No. 18 overall by the Green Bay Packers, and Heisman winner Lamar Jackson, selected No. 32 overall by the Baltimore Ravens.
Other notable first-round picks in recent years include Sheldon Rankins in the 2016 draft, DeVante Parker in the 2015 draft, and, in the 2014 draft, Louisville had three Cardinals selected, with Calvin Pryor going No. 18 overall, Marcus Smith going No. 26 overall, and Teddy Bridgewater going No. 32 overall.
In recent mock drafts, Bell is trending to be a third-round pick, as ESPN updated its mock draft following the first round. ESPN draft analyst Matt Miller predicts Bell to be paired up with the No. 1 overall pick, Fernando Mendoza, and selected by the Las Vegas Raiders with the No. 67 overall pick.
Related: 2 Louisville players appear in ESPN’s 7-round NFL mock draft, with one trending undrafted
For all the latest recruiting news and updates for Louisville football, stay tuned.
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