The Arizona Cardinals may have selected talented Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love with the No. 3 overall pick, but they should've taken Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese instead.
Talent has never been an issue for Love, who is currently favored to win Offensive Rookie of the Year this season. Rather, it's the opportunity cost of Arizona passing up on a chance to address serious holes in a defense that gave up 28.7 points per game last season.
Reese is more than just a cool name; he's also one of the best defenders in the entire 2026 draft class, capable of making an impact at multiple positions. He's somewhat of a hybrid linebacker/edge rusher, which would've been ideal for a Cardinals roster that still needs to address multiple defensive positions.
Cardinals should've drafted Arvell Reese over Jeremiyah Love
Not to say Reese is "more talented" than Love, but the opportunity cost of taking a running back that high when you still have multiple holes to fill is very real.
Look at how the New York Giants fared with a franchise-altering prospect in Saquon Barkley. They weren't able to reap the benefits of his talent, ultimately leading to him walking in free agency, only to join the divisional rival Philadelphia Eagles and go on to win a Super Bowl.
There's a similar concern regarding Love. Running backs have short shelf lives, and the Cardinals now have an increased sense of urgency to win while he's still playing at an elite level. That's easier said than done for a team coming off a three-win season stuck in a division with the Rams, Seahawks, and 49ers.
Drafting a running back that high is only a move you make when you are somehow a team in a position to have the luxury of such a coveted pick without multiple roster holes to fill. Like a future trade has panned out in your favor and you are ready to add the missing piece to put you over the top.
Addressing the running back room to that extent when you are a Cardinals team that has arguably the worst quarterback in the league and are in the conversation for landing the top overall pick in 2027 is certainly a choice.
Hopefully, the Cardinals are able to turn these roster weaknesses into the top pick next summer, landing an Arch Manning or Dante Moore. But even then, this would still be considered a one-dimensional team that isn't a serious contender until they fix the defensive side of the ball.
Reese would've been a step in the right direction toward finding that balance Arizona still lacks, regardless of whether they find their future quarterback or not.
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