With the 2026 NFL Draft inching closer, the pre-draft process is officially kicking into high gear - and for two Louisville wideouts, the next few weeks could be career-defining. The NFL just released its list of 319 players invited to the 2026 Scouting Combine, and among them are two Cardinals who made serious noise this past season: Chris Bell and Caullin Lacy.
Both receivers will head to Indianapolis later this month, where the combine will run from February 23 through March 2 at Lucas Oil Stadium. With just over two months until the draft kicks off in Pittsburgh, this is prime time for prospects to boost their stock - and Bell and Lacy are stepping into the spotlight with plenty to prove and even more to gain.
Caullin Lacy: Speed, Versatility, and a Senior Bowl Statement
Let’s start with Caullin Lacy, who’s already started turning heads among NFL scouts. He was the only Louisville player to earn a spot in the Senior Bowl, and he made the most of it.
Lacy stood out in one-on-one red zone drills, flashing the kind of quickness and burst that make scouts take notice. At 5-foot-10 and 190 pounds, he’s not the biggest guy on the field, but his first step and top-end speed make him a nightmare in space - and a serious weapon in today’s pass-happy NFL.
Before transferring to Louisville, Lacy had already established himself as a deep-ball threat. He put up back-to-back monster seasons with 65 catches for 813 yards and six touchdowns in 2022, followed by a jaw-dropping 91 catches for 1,316 yards and seven scores in 2023. His time at Louisville was cut short in 2024 due to injury, but he bounced back strong in 2025 with 60 receptions for 635 yards and two touchdowns, finishing his Cardinals career with 78 catches for 831 yards.
But Lacy’s value goes beyond just offense. He was electric on special teams, ranking third in the nation with 20.0 yards per punt return.
He was one of just five players in college football to return two punts for touchdowns last season, piling up 454 yards on 25 returns. Add another 251 yards on 12 kickoff returns, and you’ve got a player who can flip field position in a heartbeat.
That kind of versatility is gold at the next level.
Chris Bell: Big Body, Big Plays, and a Big-Time Opportunity
Then there’s Chris Bell - a physical, 6-foot-2, 225-pound receiver who entered the 2025 season with sky-high expectations and delivered in a big way before a torn ACL ended his year early. Even with the injury, Bell’s production was impossible to ignore. He led the team with 72 catches for 917 yards and six touchdowns, and he did it all while missing the final two games of the season.
Before the injury, Bell was generating serious first-round buzz. His combination of size, strength, and hands had him drawing comparisons to A.J.
Brown - and not just from fans. He was viewed as one of the biggest hidden gems in college football, a game-changer who could dominate on the outside and win in contested catch situations.
That kind of profile doesn’t come around often.
While the ACL tear has cooled some of that first-round talk, Bell still ranks No. 10 on Mel Kiper Jr.’s big board - a testament to just how much upside he brings to the table. He finished his Louisville career with 151 receptions for 2,166 yards, placing him in the top 15 in school history in both categories. That’s elite company, and it speaks to his consistency and impact over multiple seasons.
What’s Next?
For both Bell and Lacy, the combine is a critical next step. For Lacy, it’s a chance to continue building momentum after a strong Senior Bowl and show teams that his speed and return skills can translate to the NFL. For Bell, it’s about proving he’s healthy, locked in, and still the same physical mismatch he was before the injury.
Louisville has now stacked back-to-back 9-4 seasons under Jeff Brohm, and the program’s resurgence is starting to show up on the national radar - especially when it comes to NFL talent. With Bell and Lacy headed to Indianapolis, the Cardinals will have two dynamic representatives with a real shot to make waves in April.
The stage is set. Now it’s time to see who can rise to the moment.