Running back Jeremiyah Love will serve as the new face of the Arizona Cardinals' backfield after he was selected with the third overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
He adds depth to a position of need after the Cardinals finished ranked 31st of 32 teams after averaging 93.1 rushing yards per game during the regular season. Michael Carter led the Cardinals’ running back committee last season, leading the team with 333 rushing yards in 13 games played.
Jeremiyah Love drafted by the Cardinals: How he fits, fantasy outlook
Love finished his junior season with 1,372 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns on 199 attempts in 12 games played for Notre Dame. He also caught 27 receptions for 280 yards and three touchdowns. He finished third in the Hesiman Trophy voting.
The first round of the 2026 NFL Draft brings franchise‑defining moments as teams make their selections from the top of the board.See how picks 1 through 32 came off the clock as the next generation of NFL talent enters the league.Above, A detailed view of the stage showing a still of Fernando Mendoza of the Indiana on screen after being selected first overall pick by the Las Vegas Raiders during Round One of the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium on April 23, 2026, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
1 / 5See 2026 NFL Draft first round picks, from No. 1 to No. 32The first round of the 2026 NFL Draft brings franchise‑defining moments as teams make their selections from the top of the board.See how picks 1 through 32 came off the clock as the next generation of NFL talent enters the league.Above, A detailed view of the stage showing a still of Fernando Mendoza of the Indiana on screen after being selected first overall pick by the Las Vegas Raiders during Round One of the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium on April 23, 2026, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
The first round of the 2026 NFL Draft brings franchise‑defining moments as teams make their selections from the top of the board.See how picks 1 through 32 came off the clock as the next generation of NFL talent enters the league.Above, A detailed view of the stage showing a still of Fernando Mendoza of the Indiana on screen after being selected first overall pick by the Las Vegas Raiders during Round One of the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium on April 23, 2026, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
"After all that speculation on a trade, Arizona stayed put and made Love the highest-drafted running back since Saquon Barkley in 2018. Love can truly be a game-breaker in the right setting. But the Cardinals might have an extremely difficult time getting a return on investment in him that would justify this pick.
"Love shatters the guaranteed pay for running backs with a whopping $52.5 million, meaning that extracting any surplus value on what should be a cost-controlled rookie deal will be extremely difficult. And as other highly drafted running backs have demonstrated, there's only so much that even the most talented ball carriers can do to revolutionize a ground game that has troubles starting up front. With little certainty behind center and a significant weakness at right tackle, Love might find it hard to find any running space early in his career." - Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz of USA TODAY Sports
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jeremiyah Love drafted by Cardinals: Experts grade Arizona selection