The 2026 NFL Draft showcased one of the boldest moves of recent years when the Arizona Cardinals selected running back Jeremiyah Love from Notre Dame with the third overall pick. This selection sent a clear message across the league: despite the trend of devaluing running backs in the early rounds, the Cardinals believe Love is a generational talent capable of transforming their offense.
Love's selection marks only the third time since 2010 that a running back has been drafted so high, joining the company of Saquon Barkley (No. 2 in 2018) and Ezekiel Elliott (No. 4 in 2016). The Cardinals' front office, led by General Manager Monti Ossenfort and Head Coach Mike LaFleur, view Love as a centerpiece for a resurging offense aiming to establish a dominant running game.
A Unique Talent at Running Back
Jeremiyah Love's Notre Dame career was distinguished. He rushed for over 1,200 yards in each of his last two seasons and boasted an average of more than six yards per carry. Love combines power, elite acceleration, and outstanding field vision, reminiscent of the best backs to emerge in the past decade. His ability to produce explosive plays and also wear down defenses with consistent running between the tackles makes him a true three-down back in an NFL era that often favors specialization.
This versatility stood out to the Cardinals' decision-makers, who prioritized Love even over several highly rated pass rushers, wide receivers, and offensive tackles still available at the No. 3 spot. The team's confidence in Love signals a strategic pivot toward building a balanced offense with a physical ground game capable of controlling the clock and setting up play-action opportunities.
Why Arizona Chose Love
The Arizona Cardinals enter the 2026 offseason with critical needs across the roster. Their offensive line is still in transition, the defensive front seven requires more pass-rushing options, and the secondary is young and developing. However, the offense's lack of identity has been particularly glaring since the team's departure of quarterback Kyler Murray, who was traded during the 2026 offseason.
Although the Cardinals lack a clear-cut franchise quarterback following Murray's trade, they hope Love will serve as a versatile offensive weapon capable of stabilizing the attack. While James Conner provided production as a complementary back in prior seasons, he was never the centerpiece. Love changes that dynamic entirely.
According to reports from outlets such as the Stamford Advocate, the Cardinals see Love as "somewhat of a superhero" -- an offensive weapon able to run, catch, and provide reliable pass protection. His blend of skills fits perfectly within Offensive Coordinator Nathaniel Hackett's scheme, which emphasizes gap-scheme rushing, play-action passes, and leveraging the running back as a critical safety valve. Love's ability to generate yards after contact and his top-tier speed will help ease pressure on an offense in transition.
Managing Expectations and Pressure
Selecting a running back third overall is inherently risky in today's NFL, given the physical toll the position takes and the league's evolution toward passing attacks. The history of high-drafted backs is mixed: stars like Saquon Barkley and Ezekiel Elliott have had impactful but injury-shortened careers, while others such as Trent Richardson, the No. 3 pick in 2012, failed to meet expectations.
Love is aware of this delicate balance. Leading into the draft, he expressed confidence in his durability, skill set, and commitment to maximizing his professional career. The Cardinals plan to carefully manage his workload initially but will expect him to contribute meaningfully given their investment.
The rookie wage scale ensures Love's contract will be cost-controlled for at least four years with a possible fifth-year option. This financial arrangement makes Love an attractive building block for Arizona's offense as they seek to maximize both talent and salary cap efficiency.
Impact on the Cardinals' Offense
The addition of Jeremiyah Love is transformative. The 2025 Cardinals offense struggled to maintain consistency, often stalling in critical short-yardage and red zone situations. Love's ability to break tackles and convert modest gains into explosive plays can redefine these moments.
His presence will diversify the offensive attack, forcing defenses to respect both the run and the pass. Safeties may be required to play closer to the line of scrimmage, creating more favorable one-on-one opportunities for Arizona's receivers like Marvin Harrison Jr. and Ihmir Smith-Marsette. This balanced threat simplifies pre-snap reads for the team's current quarterbacks, Jacoby Brissett, Gardner Minshew II, and Kedon Slovis, while opening lanes for designed runs and scrambles.
Together, Love and the Cardinals' young signal-callers could form the nucleus of a dangerous offense in the competitive NFC West.
Looking Ahead: Cardinals' Vision
Drafting a running back so high is a deliberate strategic choice by the Cardinals that bucks the current NFL trend. It reflects a franchise vision focused on imposing physicality and versatility in their offense, rather than relying solely on a passing game.
Arizona competes in a fiercely competitive NFC West division featuring potent teams like the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams. Love is the cardinal piece intended to tilt divisional matchups in Arizona's favor by establishing a reliable and explosive ground game.
Beyond on-field production, Love represents a new identity for the Cardinals -- one that emphasizes toughness, resilience, and a capacity to control games through physical dominance. If he fulfills his promise, this pick may well redefine the franchise's direction for years.
Conclusion
Jeremiyah Love's selection at No. 3 overall will be scrutinized heavily -- as all top picks are. If he proves to be a perennial All-Pro and helps propel the Cardinals deep into the playoffs, general manager Monti Ossenfort and head coach Mike LaFleur's bold move will be celebrated as visionary. If injuries or inconsistencies arise, the pick may be reconsidered as a cautionary tale regarding backfield investments.
For now, the Arizona Cardinals have secured a promising franchise cornerstone. Jeremiyah Love steps into the NFL spotlight ready to prove that even in today's passing league, a dynamic running back can still be the most valuable player on the field.
The 2026 season awaits, and with it, the unfolding story of Arizona's new offensive hero.