The Arizona Cardinals took a massive risk in the 2026 NFL Draft, using the No. 3 overall pick on Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, a selection they needed to ensure they got right, as it would either make or break the team’s chances of being competitive in the long run.
Arizona saw its offense break out towards the end of 2025, but that had to do with quarterback play and, more importantly, the performance of the receiving core. However, the Cardinals did find themselves with one major weakness on offense, and it was at the running back position.
With season-ending injuries to James Conner, Trey Benson, and Bam Knight, Arizona was relying on depth guys to carry the bulk of the work, something that would not be sustainable in the long-run.
So what did they do? They brought in Jeremiyah Love, along with former Atlanta Falcons’ running back Tyler Allgeier.
The selection of Love did draw criticism from one analyst.
"This is about the position, not the player. He's a great running back prospect, but running back is one of the least important positions on the field. This is one step up from taking a punter at number three overall. He instantly becomes an expensive running back, and the opportunity cost is so high. You could have taken a tackle, an edge rusher, or a wide receiver. Someone who's hard to find in free agency. Just a big missed opportunity for Arizona." — Seth Walder
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Love has the opportunity to prove Walder wrong right away, as all signs point to him being the lead back out of training camp.
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