GLENDALE, Ariz. -- The Arizona Cardinals made a franchise-altering decision Thursday night, selecting Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love with the third overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. It is the first time a running back has been taken in the top five since Saquon Barkley went second overall to the New York Giants in 2018, and it signals a clear philosophical shift for a Cardinals team that has spent the past two years rebuilding its offensive identity around quarterback Kyler Murray.
The pick, announced from the draft stage in Pittsburgh, was met with a mix of excitement and skepticism from analysts and fans alike. The modern NFL has devalued the running back position, with few teams willing to invest premium draft capital in a player whose positional shelf life is notoriously short. But Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort and head coach Jonathan Gannon have made it clear they believe Love is an exception -- a generational talent capable of transforming their offense.
Love, a 5-foot-11, 215-pound back who rushed for 1,243 yards and 17 touchdowns for the Fighting Irish in 2025, is widely regarded as the most complete running back prospect in this year's class. His combination of speed, power, and pass-catching ability drew comparisons to Christian McCaffrey and Alvin Kamara during the pre-draft process. According to NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah, Love ranked as the No. 4 overall prospect on his final top-150 big board, making him the highest-graded running back in the draft by a significant margin.
"Jeremiyah Love is a rare talent," Jeremiah wrote in his pre-draft analysis. "He has the ability to be a three-down back from Day 1, and his production at Notre Dame against top competition speaks for itself. In a league where running backs are often undervalued, Love is the kind of player who can change that narrative."
For the Cardinals, the decision to take Love at No. 3 was not made in a vacuum. The team entered the offseason with a glaring need at running back after releasing veteran James Conner in March. Conner, who turned 31 in May, had been the workhorse of Arizona's backfield since 2021, but his production declined in 2025 as he battled nagging injuries. The Cardinals also parted ways with backup Michael Carter, leaving a roster that featured only unproven depth pieces like Keaontay Ingram and a pair of undrafted free agents.
The need was obvious, but the draft capital was the subject of intense debate. In the weeks leading up to the draft, local and national analysts questioned whether Arizona should use such a high pick on a running back. The Cardinals had other pressing needs, including edge rusher, wide receiver, and offensive line depth. But Ossenfort and Gannon, who have emphasized building a physical, run-first offense around Murray, saw Love as a foundational piece.
"We don't draft for need; we draft for value," Ossenfort said in a post-dick press conference. "Jeremiyah was the highest-graded player on our board at that spot. When you have a chance to add a player of his caliber, you don't overthink it. He's going to make everyone around him better."
The Cardinals' offense under offensive coordinator Drew Petzing has evolved over the past two seasons. In 2024, Arizona ranked 12th in rushing offense, averaging 118.3 yards per game. In 2025, that number dropped to 104.7 yards per game, good for 18th in the league. The decline was directly tied to Conner's diminished explosiveness and a lack of a consistent change-of-pace back. Love's ability to hit home runs -- he averaged 6.2 yards per carry in his final college season -- should open up the play-action passing game for Murray and a receiving corps headlined by Marvin Harrison Jr.
Love's versatility also gives Petzing flexibility in the passing game. At Notre Dame, he caught 54 passes for 487 yards and four touchdowns in 2025, often lining up in the slot or split out wide. That skill set should help offset the loss of tight end Zach Ertz, who retired after the 2025 season, and wide receiver Marquise Brown, who signed with the Kansas City Chiefs in free agency.
The Cardinals' schedule in 2026 will test Love immediately. Arizona opens the season on the road against the San Francisco 49ers, followed by home games against the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams. All three NFC West defenses are stout against the run, with the 49ers ranking second in the NFL in rushing yards allowed per game in 2025. Love's ability to handle a heavy workload from Week 1 will be critical.
The financial implications of the pick are also significant. As the third overall selection, Love will sign a four-year rookie contract worth approximately $35 million, fully guaranteed, with a fifth-year team option. That is a massive investment for a running back, especially one who will turn 22 in September. But the Cardinals are betting that Love's production will justify the cost, particularly in a league where top-tier running backs are increasingly difficult to find.
The last running back drafted in the top five, Barkley, has had an up-and-down career, but he has also been a game-changer when healthy. In 2018, Barkley rushed for 1,307 yards and 11 touchdowns as a rookie, earning Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. The Cardinals are hoping Love can have a similar immediate impact.
Not everyone is convinced. Critics point to the 2018 draft class, which also included running backs Rashaad Penny (first round, 27th overall) and Sony Michel (first round, 31st overall), neither of whom lived up to their draft status. The 2026 class is similarly deep at the position, with backs like Ohio State's Quinshon Judkins and Georgia's Trevor Etienne available later in the draft. But the Cardinals clearly believe Love is a cut above.
For Love, the pressure is immense, but he has embraced it. In a pre-draft interview with local media, he said he modeled his game after McCaffrey and Derrick Henry, and he is eager to prove that running backs can still be franchise pillars.
"I know what people say about running backs in the draft," Love said. "But I'm not just a running back. I'm a weapon. I can do it all. I'm ready to show the NFL that the position still matters."
The Cardinals are betting their future on that belief. Whether it pays off will be one of the defining storylines of the 2026 season.