The Arizona Cardinals chose not to trade the third overall pick, instead making a splash to bolster their offense. They selected running back Jeremiyah Love out of Notre Dame.
No running back has gotten that high since Saquon Barkley was selected second overall in 2018 by the New York Giants.
He joins a position that already has some players. James Conners returns and Tyler Allgeier signed a two-year contract as a free agent.
He was eighth in the nation in rushing with 1,372 yards, averaging 6.9 yards per carry, and he was the only player in the top 19 in rushing yards with fewer than 200 carries. Love had 199 rushing attempts.
His 18 rushing touchdowns were third in the nation.
He rushed for almost 2,500 yards and scored 42 touchdowns over his last two seasons, but he doesn't come into the league with heavy usage. He had only 362 carries over his last two seasons.
He will immediately bring some juice to the fanbase, something badly needed.
You can question whether it makes sense to take a running back so high when there are other important needs. The Cardinals have a critical need at the defensive edge and passed on Ohio State's Arvell Reese. Running back is not a premium position. Love will enter the league as the seventh-highest-paid running back in the NFL.
Pass rusher and tackle are more premium positions and there were promising players.
The Cardinals have questions on the right side of their offensive line, so adding a running back without having certainty there also raises questions.
One can question whether the Cardinals even needed a running back. While he is an elite talent, the Cardinals already have James Conner, Trey Benson and Bam Knight returning, and they signed Tyler Allgeier to a two-year, $12.25 million contract in free agency.
Great running backs rarely change bad teams. But if he can be part of an offensive unit that turns things around, then maybe his addition will be the stepping stone to the next move to make them good.
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This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: 2026 NFL draft: Instant analysis of Jeremiyah Love selection