The Cincinnati Bengals are intensifying their evaluation efforts ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft by hosting one of the top running back prospects in the class, Notre Dame's Jeremiyah Love. This pre-draft visit, reported on April 6, 2026, underscores the Bengals' keen interest in securing a dynamic backfield presence to complement their high-powered offense.
Pre-draft visits are a critical evaluation stage where teams assess a prospect's football intelligence, character, and scheme compatibility beyond what is visible through game tape, combines, or pro days. For Jeremiyah Love, this visit is an invaluable opportunity to showcase his skills in person before key decision-makers including Head Coach Zac Taylor, Offensive Coordinator Dan Pitcher, and General Manager Duke Tobin. The Bengals, in turn, gain deeper insight into Love's fit within their offensive system and locker room culture.
Love arrives at the draft with a versatile skill set befitting the modern NFL running back. Throughout his collegiate career at Notre Dame, he demonstrated a rare combination of field vision, burst, and toughness between the tackles. What distinguishes Love, however, is his prowess as a receiving back. He runs a diverse route tree and creates mismatches in the passing game, a trait that aligns well with the Bengals' pass-heavy offense led by Joe Burrow. Moreover, Love's pass protection has shown notable improvement over his college tenure, a key concern for NFL teams when evaluating rookie running backs.
The Bengals' focus on upgrading the running back position is both logical and necessary. Since the departure of Joe Mixon, Cincinnati's backfield has seen a committee approach but lacked a definitive bell cow. Chase Brown emerged as an explosive playmaker, while Zack Moss provided reliability, yet the absence of a consistent three-down back was felt. The Bengals' offense, powered by elite talents like Joe Burrow at quarterback and wide receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, thrives when it can keep defenses honest with a balanced attack. A dynamic and reliable rushing threat is essential to prevent opposing defenses from adopting pass-focused strategies that stymie Cincinnati's potent aerial attack.
Jeremiyah Love's receiving abilities particularly make him an enticing option. His capacity to stretch the field out of the backfield and to be impactful in screens and play-action schemes fits seamlessly with Burrow's precision passing style. This would compel defenses to allocate additional coverage to the backfield, potentially creating more favorable matchups for wide receivers Chase and Higgins. In addition, Love's knack for gaining yards after contact and breaking off big runs is vital for sustaining drives, controlling the clock, and reducing pressure on Burrow by keeping him protected.
A key point of consideration for the Bengals is the draft valuation of a player like Love. The running back position's value in the NFL Draft is a contentious topic, with many teams opting to acquire backs in the mid to late rounds rather than investing premium picks. However, the Bengals hold multiple draft selections across all rounds, including a first-round pick at 10th overall. How the team chooses to allocate their picks will reveal their philosophy. Will Love be targeted early as a potential game-changer, signaling a strategic shift to prioritize the backfield, or will the Bengals view him as a valuable mid-round acquisition? His pre-draft visit is pivotal in answering these questions.
Besides on-field skills, Cincinnati's medical and performance staff will take the opportunity to conduct an exhaustive evaluation of Love's physical health and durability--crucial factors for running backs who typically endure a punishing workload. The coaching staff will also engage Love in detailed discussions about their offensive schemes, testing his grasp of intricate protection calls and route concepts to assess his readiness for the professional level.
It is important to emphasize that a pre-draft visit does not guarantee that a player will be selected by the hosting team. The Bengals are likely conducting multiple visits across different positions of need to broaden their evaluations. Nonetheless, dedicating one of their official top-30 visits to Jeremiyah Love firmly places him in serious consideration.
Should Love impress during his visit, Cincinnati represents an appealing destination. The prospect of joining a championship-contending offense with a franchise quarterback like Joe Burrow and weapons such as Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins is an attractive proposition for any offensive player. Moreover, the opportunity to make an immediate impact under a stable and skilled coaching staff offers further incentive.
As the 2026 NFL Draft approaches, this visit stands out as a significant indicator of Cincinnati's draft strategy and backfield direction. Jeremiyah Love's evaluation is entering its most critical phase, and his time spent at the Bengals' facility today may shape the future of Cincinnati's rushing attack for years to come.
In summary, the Bengals' hosting of Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love highlights their active pursuit of a versatile, high-impact running back to enhance their offense. Whether Love's visit will culminate in the Bengals drafting him remains uncertain, but this development clearly places him among the top running back prospects under serious Bengals consideration as they prepare for the 2026 NFL Draft.