The Arizona Cardinals' selection of Jeremiyah Love in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft was polarizing.
Arizona landed on both NFL draft winners and NFL draft losers lists for the selection of the Notre Dame running back at No. 3 overall on April 23.
Some writers lauded the Cardinals for the selection, while others lambasted the NFL team.
Why? Check out their explanations of why they liked the pick and why they hated it.
Low marks? Arizona Cardinals NFL draft grades for Jeremiyah Love 1st-round pick
Matt Johnson wrote: "We viewed Jeremiyah Love as the best player in the 2026 NFL Draft. He walks in and immediately becomes one of the best NFL running backs right now; he is just a tier below Bijan Robinson as a prospect. The problem is that the right side of the Arizona Cardinals' offensive line is abysmal, and they don’t even have a viable quarterback who defenses will really have to respect, let alone fear. This is even putting aside the fact that Arizona signed Tyler Allgeier this offseason and even worked out a deal to keep James Conner. This pick feels reminiscent of the Las Vegas Raiders drafting Ashton Jeanty and effectively wasting the first year of his rookie contract. Oh, let’s also factor in contract value with the fact that the contract for the third overall pick will make Love the seventh-highest-paid running back in the NFL. We didn’t like the idea of the Tennessee Titans taking Love; this is worse."
Arizona Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort speaks during a press conference at the Arizona Cardinals facility in Tempe after the first round of the NFL Draft on April 23, 2026.Arizona Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur speaks during a press conference at the Arizona Cardinals facility in Tempe after the first round of the NFL Draft on April 23, 2026.Arizona Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur speaks during a press conference at the Arizona Cardinals facility in Tempe after the first round of the NFL Draft on April 23, 2026.Arizona Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur listens to general manager Monti Ossenfort speak during a press conference at the Arizona Cardinals facility in Tempe after the first round of the NFL Draft on April 23, 2026.Arizona Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur speaks during a press conference at the Arizona Cardinals facility in Tempe after the first round of the NFL Draft on April 23, 2026.Arizona Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort speaks during a press conference at the Arizona Cardinals facility in Tempe after the first round of the NFL Draft on April 23, 2026.Arizona Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort speaks during a press conference at the Arizona Cardinals facility in Tempe after the first round of the NFL Draft on April 23, 2026.Arizona Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur and general manager Monti Ossenfort leave the press conference at the Arizona Cardinals facility in Tempe after the first round of the NFL Draft on April 23, 2026.Arizona Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur speaks during a press conference at the Arizona Cardinals facility in Tempe after the first round of the NFL Draft on April 23, 2026.Arizona Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort and head coach Mike LaFleur speak during a press conference at the Arizona Cardinals facility in Tempe after the first round of the NFL Draft on April 23, 2026.1 / 10Arizona Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort, Coach Mike LaFleur talk draft picksArizona Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort speaks during a press conference at the Arizona Cardinals facility in Tempe after the first round of the NFL Draft on April 23, 2026.1 / 10Arizona Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort, Coach Mike LaFleur talk draft picksArizona Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort speaks during a press conference at the Arizona Cardinals facility in Tempe after the first round of the NFL Draft on April 23, 2026.2 / 10Arizona Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort, Coach Mike LaFleur talk draft picksArizona Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur speaks during a press conference at the Arizona Cardinals facility in Tempe after the first round of the NFL Draft on April 23, 2026.3 / 10Arizona Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort, Coach Mike LaFleur talk draft picksArizona Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur speaks during a press conference at the Arizona Cardinals facility in Tempe after the first round of the NFL Draft on April 23, 2026.4 / 10Arizona Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort, Coach Mike LaFleur talk draft picksArizona Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur listens to general manager Monti Ossenfort speak during a press conference at the Arizona Cardinals facility in Tempe after the first round of the NFL Draft on April 23, 2026.5 / 10Arizona Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort, Coach Mike LaFleur talk draft picksArizona Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur speaks during a press conference at the Arizona Cardinals facility in Tempe after the first round of the NFL Draft on April 23, 2026.6 / 10Arizona Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort, Coach Mike LaFleur talk draft picksArizona Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort speaks during a press conference at the Arizona Cardinals facility in Tempe after the first round of the NFL Draft on April 23, 2026.7 / 10Arizona Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort, Coach Mike LaFleur talk draft picksArizona Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort speaks during a press conference at the Arizona Cardinals facility in Tempe after the first round of the NFL Draft on April 23, 2026.8 / 10Arizona Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort, Coach Mike LaFleur talk draft picksArizona Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur and general manager Monti Ossenfort leave the press conference at the Arizona Cardinals facility in Tempe after the first round of the NFL Draft on April 23, 2026.9 / 10Arizona Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort, Coach Mike LaFleur talk draft picksArizona Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur speaks during a press conference at the Arizona Cardinals facility in Tempe after the first round of the NFL Draft on April 23, 2026.10 / 10Arizona Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort, Coach Mike LaFleur talk draft picksArizona Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort and head coach Mike LaFleur speak during a press conference at the Arizona Cardinals facility in Tempe after the first round of the NFL Draft on April 23, 2026.Sporting News: Jeremiyah Love a winner after first round of NFL draftBill Bender wrote: "The Cardinals selected Love with the No. 3 pick — which is the highest a running back has been selected in the draft since the Giants took Saquon Barkley with the No. 2 pick in 2018. Love flashed at the NFL Scouting Combine with a 4.36 in the 40-yard dash — and he was the ultimate big-play running back for the Irish with 39 runs of 10 yards or more last season. Love will be pressured to be an elite running back right away with first-year coach Mike LaFleur, but the talent for a fantastic career is there. Arizona went best player in the draft at an impact position — and that is not a reach."
How it went down: NFL Draft 2026 recap, tracker, picks, trades from first round Thursday
Scotty Payne writes: "It’s the classic case of a bad team selecting a running back with a top 5 selection. Don’t get me wrong, Jeremiyah Love is an excellent prospect, but the Cardinals are a bad team that already has running backs on their roster. They have veteran James Conner, signed Tyler Allgeier in free agency, and still have Trey Benson, who they selected early in the draft a few years ago. What are they doing? There were rumors they were considering trading out of this pick, which is something they should have done. Collect premium picks and continue to build the core of this roster before selecting a running back that early. We have seen this story play out multiple times before, and it rarely works out well for the bad team taking the running back early in the draft. Look at Ashton Jeanty’s rookie season with the Raiders."
Mel Kiper Jr. wrote: "We started hearing some buzz that Arizona might go this way earlier this week. And I know, I'm not supposed to like a running back in the top five. This isn't a running back. Love is so much more than that — he's a true all-purpose offensive playmaker who is going to change this offense. He was No. 2 on my board behind Mendoza. The Cardinals didn't really have an identity on that side of the ball; that unit was pretty bland. But coach Mike LaFleur is going to line up Love in the backfield and let him break home runs with his 4.36 speed. He's going to get Love in the slot and also out wide as a dynamic pass catcher. No pun intended, but I love this fit, even with James Conner and Tyler Allgeier in that RB room. This 20-year-old is going to energize the fan base."
The pick: Cardinals take running back in 1st round of NFL draft
Joe Kozlowski writes: "While Saquon Barkley reminded us that running backs can still make a difference in the modern NFL, taking one third overall is still quite the risk. The gamble is compounded by the realities of life in the desert. In a time of offensive transition--moving on from Kyler Murray and bringing in Mike LaFleur--is a rookie running back really going to be the stabilizing presence? Love has the talent, but sometimes fit matters more than pure skill. It's worth noting, though, that this pick has proved to be pretty divisive. Mel Kiper Jr., for example, lists the Cardinals as one of his Round 1 winners."
Frank Schwab writes: "The Arizona Cardinals taking a running back at third overall, when they had significant needs up and down the roster, is questionable. But it’s hard to say they will regret having Jeremiyah Love for the foreseeable future. Love is dynamic, and in a draft class that wasn’t that strong, he was a fine reach at No. 3. And whoever the Cardinals draft at quarterback in 2027 will be in a good place. They have Love, Marvin Harrison Jr., Michael Wilson and Trey McBride at the skill positions. That’s a lot of fantastic young talent. This season might be uneven with Jacoby Brissett likely to start at quarterback, and Love might have some Ashton Jeanty-type rookie struggles as teams load up the box against him, but a foundation is being set for Arizona’s offense."
Opinion: The Cardinals just drafted their next Larry Fitzgerald
Eric Edholm writes: "I want to be clear that I don't at all dislike Jeremiyah Love as a prospect in a vacuum. He was my No. 2 overall player, and the Cardinals got him third. So what's the problem? Well, Love finds himself in a rather strange offensive situation, with his new team lacking its long-term quarterback and still being a few other pieces short. The hope is that new coach Mike LaFleur can help build an offense, and Love could be a key part. But similar to what transpired with the Raiders and 2025 No. 6 overall pick Ashton Jeanty, the Cardinals might end up using carries on Love's body while putting everything together. Sure, Love still has plenty of tread left after starting just two seasons in college, but it's fair to question the value and the fit right now, I think. We'll see if passing up on a chance to snag some blocking help was the right call in a few years. Another blow landed in Round 1 when Ty Simpson was drafted by the Rams. Simpson was roundly mocked to the Cardinals, who felt like the overwhelming favorites to take him — either at No. 34 overall or via a short trade up. The Rams blew that concept out of the water. Thankfully, the Cardinals have done plenty of homework on other QBs in this draft, and they likely weren't counting on Simpson to be all theirs with no resistance. But can they get someone of commensurate talent later? That's highly debatable."
John Breech writes: "The Cardinals' new running back hasn't even played a down yet, and he's already the highest-paid running back in NFL history. At least in terms of guaranteed money. Love will be getting a fully guaranteed four-year, $53.9 million contract, which is the most guaranteed money ever given to a running back. Love's total tops Saquon Barkley, who held the previous record at $36 million. Love will also make an average of $13.47 million per year, which ranks seventh in the NFL. Love is already getting top-of-the-market money at his position, and he hasn't even attended his first practice. That definitely makes him a winner."
Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona Cardinals on NFL draft winners, losers list for Jeremiyah Love