Where will Louisville, Kentucky football players go in 2026 NFL Draft?

TL;DR

The 2026 NFL Draft begins today, but no Louisville football players are expected to be selected in the first round. Wide receiver Chris Bell's draft stock has dropped due to an ACL injury.

Key points

2026 NFL Draft begins today
No Louisville players expected to be drafted in the first round
Chris Bell's draft stock dropped due to ACL injury
Louisville had three players drafted last year
Louisville has a history of sending players to the NFL

Mentioned in this story

Cleveland BrownsNew Orleans SaintsKansas City Chiefs

Louisville CardinalsChris BellTyler ShoughQuincy Riley

The first round of the 2026 NFL Draft is set to begin today, though no one from the Louisville football team is expected to hear their name just yet. Wide receiver Chris Bell had been a projected first-round pick, but an ACL injury caused a drop in his draft stock.

Still, Louisville has had a strong history of sending players to the league. Since 2010, the Cardinals have had at least one draft pick in 12 drafts. Last year, three players were drafted: quarterback Tyler Shough and cornerback Quincy Riley went to the New Orleans Saints in the second and fourth rounds, respectively, while the Kansas City Chiefs took defensive lineman Ashton Gillotte in the third round.

Bell’s selection will make him the first UofL receiver to be drafted since Jamari Thrash, who went to the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft.

A handful of Kentucky players are also hoping to hear their names called this weekend. The Wildcats have had at least two players selected in seven straight drafts, the program's longest such streak since 1984-91. Six UK players were invited to the NFL Scouting Combine in February.