Louisville football star WR already turning heads for 2026 NFL Draft

Louisville football star wide receiver Chris Bell is drawing early 2026 NFL Draft buzz.
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Louisville football's Chris Bell has been trending in college football news a lot recently, as the Cardinals' star wide receiver is emerging as one of the nation's top wide receivers entering the 2025 season. Recently, David Pollack claimed Bell to be one of the biggest game-changers entering the 2025 season, and before that, Bell earned extreme high praise and was compared to Super Bowl champion AJ Brown.

Now, the Cardinals' star receiver is expected to be playing his final season in a Red and Black uniform, as he is hearing his name as one of the best NFL draft prospects in the wide receiver room. The Athletic's Dane Brugler recently put out an article highlighting the best wide receivers for the 2026 NFL Draft, and Bell was one of the top names on the board.

Related: Louisville star WR earning 2026 NFL Draft hype with AJ Brown comparisons

Louisville football star WR drawing early 2026 NFL Draft buzz

No surprise here to hear Bell's name on the list. The 6-foot-2 220 220-pound receiver had his best collegiate season last year, and many are expecting a breakout season this year. He is coming off a year where he played behind Washington Commanders wide receiver Ja'Corey Brooks, but was still able to log 43 catches for 737 receiving yards and four touchdowns.

Now, Bell will be the WR1 for Jeff Brohm and Miller Moss, and he is expected to have a 1,000-yard receiving season and be an All-ACC wide receiver. If all that goes according to plan, then Brugler believes Bell isn't just a receiver with hopes of being drafted in the 2026 NFL Draft, but he will be the No. 2 prospect in the wide receiver room.

Brugler explains that Bell's size, combined with his speed, is one of the few things that make the Cardinals' star wide receiver stand out. He claims Bell has 4.4 speed, and with his frame and size, he can be one of the best senior wide receivers in the 2026 NFL Draft.

The only wide receiver ranked higher than Bell in his list is Arizona State's Jordyn Tyson. Bell's expectations continue to rise more and more recently, and if he can truly have this breakout season that many experts are predicting will happen, then not only will he be a top NFL Draft pick, but Louisville's offense will be unstoppable.

Related: David Pollack spills the truth on Louisville football's next offensive star

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