Louisville football is expected to hear a couple of names in the 2026 NFL Draft, as its two wide receiver standouts are trending towards being selected in the first seven rounds. Recently, ESPN’s Matt Miller released his updated predictions for rounds one through seven, and the Cardinals fans will quickly notice that both receivers are in the article.
Jordan Schultz sparks new buzz around Louisville's Chris Bell before NFL Draft
Lacy is predicted to be selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the seventh round with the No. 254 overall pick. The former receiver is a speedy wideout who can be a threat downfield on offense and an elite special teams player, as he was one of the top returners in college football last year.
As for Bell, Louisville fans are expecting the star wide receiver to be a late first or second-round pick. He is ranked No. 10 on Mel Kiper’s Big Board, but they were left confused and feel like their star wide receiver is getting a bit disrespected, as Bell is predicted to go No. 66 overall by the Tennessee Titans in the third round in Miller’s prediction.
ESPN's latest NFL mock draft predicts Chris Bell to fall to third-round
The Cardinals fans are hoping Bell can break Louisville’s first-round drought, as the last Cardinal to go in the first round was in 2020, when Mekhi Becton was drafted No. 11 overall by the New York Jets. However, Louisville fans and Bell are getting a shocking prediction under a month before the draft.
"Let's help Cam Ward by drafting a big-play receiver. Bell would have gone off the board much earlier were it not for a late-season ACL injury. The 6-foot-2, 222-pounder will remind fans of a young A.J. Brown in terms of play style and physicality."Matt Miller
Bell gets praise by being compared to Super Bowl champion and three-time Pro Bowler AJ Brown, but the Cardinals star wide receiver knows he is a first-round caliber pick, and so does NFL Inside Jordan Schultz. Later in March, the NFL Insider reported Bell’s “chance of being a first-round pick is still real,” and “is expected to be fully cleared by training camp.”
So, Miller’s prediction raises a few eyebrows from the Cardinals fans, and certainly makes it clear it is no lock that Bell will be a first-round pick, but it seems bold to predict him to fall to the No. 66 overall pick. Bell has reportedly met with over 4 teams and will meet with over 13 teams, and many NFL Insiders predict he will be selected in the late first-round or the early second-round.
Louisville fans are hoping Miller is wrong and that this drought without a first-round pick ends this year. If he does fall to the second round, the dream is for Bell to be paired with former Louisville quarterback Tyler Shough with the New Orleans Saints.
Related: Louisville's Chris Bell makes feelings clear on possible reunion with Tyler Shough
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