The Arizona Cardinals have made their first-round selection in the 2026 NFL Draft, and they didn't have to look far to find the playmaker they wanted. With the 16th overall pick, the Cardinals selected Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, a dynamic, explosive talent who projects as the long-term centerpiece of Arizona's backfield.
According to the Cardinals' official announcement, the team knew they wanted Jeremiyah Love. They just needed the right phone number to get him.
General manager Monti Ossenfort acknowledged the only real tension leading up to the pick was making sure the call went through cleanly. Once it did, the Cardinals wasted no time adding one of the most electrifying skill-position players in this entire draft class.
Love to Arizona feels like a match made in offensive heaven.
The Pick: Breaking Down Jeremiyah Love
For Cardinals fans who have been clamoring for a true, game-breaking running back since the days of David Johnson's prime, Jeremiyah Love represents everything they've been waiting for. At 6-foot-1 and 215 pounds, Love possesses a rare size-speed combination that made him a nightmare for college defenses at Notre Dame. He leaves South Bend as one of the most decorated backs in Fighting Irish history, a player who consistently produced explosive runs and delivered in the biggest moments.
Love is not just a one-dimensional runner. He's a three-down weapon.
During his college career, Love showcased elite vision, patience behind the line of scrimmage, and the kind of second-level burst that turns five-yard gains into 50-yard touchdowns. His ability to accelerate through holes and maintain top-end speed through contact made him a constant big-play threat. He also developed into a reliable receiver out of the backfield, giving offensive coordinators flexibility to line him up in the slot or split him wide on passing downs.
What separates Love from other running backs in this class, however, is his competitive toughness. He runs with a physicality that belies his smooth running style. He doesn't shy away from contact; he embraces it. That combination of finesse and power is rare, and it's exactly what the Cardinals offense has been missing.
The Fit: Why Love Makes Sense for Arizona
The Cardinals entered the 2026 offseason with a clear identity on offense. Head coach Mike LaFleur and offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett have built a scheme predicated on physicality, play-action, and creating explosive plays off of their quarterback's unique dual-threat ability. The running game has been a point of emphasis since this regime took over, and while the team has found production by committee, they've lacked a true bell cow.
Jeremiyah Love changes that.
Pairing Love with Kyler Murray creates a nightmare scenario for opposing defenses. Defensive coordinators will be forced to choose between loading the box to stop Love -- and leaving themselves vulnerable to Murray's arm and legs -- or playing light and allowing Love to gash them on the ground. Love's presence alone will open up the entire play-action passing game, which is where Murray has historically been most dangerous.
The Cardinals also boast one of the more underrated offensive lines in the league. With bookend tackles who can move bodies in the run game and an interior that excels at creating push, Love will have clear running lanes from day one. He won't have to create everything on his own. The infrastructure is already in place.
What This Means for the Running Back Room
With the selection of Love, the Cardinals signal a clear shift in philosophy regarding their backfield. Previous seasons saw a rotation-heavy approach, with multiple backs sharing carries and none truly establishing themselves as the featured option. That approach had its merits -- keeping legs fresh, forcing defenses to adjust to different styles -- but it also meant the offense lacked a consistent, closing-time hammer.
Love has the profile to handle 20-plus touches per game. He's built for it. His college workload was managed carefully, but his frame and running style suggest he can absorb the punishment of an NFL feature back role. The Cardinals didn't draft him at No. 16 to split carries evenly. They drafted him to be the guy.
The incumbent backs on the roster will still have roles. James Conner provides veteran leadership and short-yardage toughness. But Love is the future. He's the player the coaching staff will build game plans around, especially in critical late-game and short-yardage situations where a dominant runner can close out victories.
The Draft Approach: Monti Ossenfort's Vision
General manager Monti Ossenfort has been methodical in building this roster. He's prioritized the trenches, added speed on defense, and collected draft capital with the patience of a man who understands that sustained success requires discipline. With the 16th overall pick, he stuck to his board and took a player who fills a clear need while also representing the best available talent.
It's a pick that checks all the boxes.
Ossenfort and the scouting department have shown a preference for players who produce in big moments and come from winning programs. Love checks both boxes. He played his best football in Notre Dame's biggest games, and he carries himself with the professionalism and work ethic that Arizona's front office values.
This is also a pick that signals the Cardinals believe they are closer to contention than the national narrative suggests. Taking a running back in the first round is a luxury pick for teams that feel good about their roster foundation. The Cardinals feel good about theirs. They have their quarterback, their offensive line is solidifying, and the defense added key pieces in free agency. Now they have their feature back.
What to Expect on the Field
Fans should temper immediate expectations -- rookie running backs often need time to adjust to NFL speed and blitz pickup responsibilities -- but Love's skill set translates immediately.
Expect offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett to get Love heavily involved early, both as a runner and as a receiver. The screen game could become a significant weapon with Love in the backfield, as his ability to make defenders miss in space is elite. Jet sweeps, zone runs, and play-action boots off Love's presence should become staples of Arizona's early-season offense.
Love also brings a dimension the Cardinals haven't consistently had: home-run hitting ability from any spot on the field. Last season, Arizona's offense too often had to methodically drive down the field, converting third-and-short situations to sustain possessions. With Love, they'll have a back capable of turning a simple inside zone into a 75-yard touchdown. That changes everything about how defenses prepare.
The Bigger Picture
This is a statement pick for the Arizona Cardinals. They identified a player they loved, trusted their evaluations, and went and got him. No trading down. No reaching for a position of need. Just a clean, confident selection of a player who can be a cornerstone of the offense for years to come.
In a draft class that was deep at running back but light on true game-changers at the position, Love stood out. The Cardinals recognized that. They made sure he didn't get away.
For fans in the Valley, the message is clear: the Cardinals are building something real. And Jeremiyah Love is going to be a huge part of it.
The phone call went through. The pick is in. And in Arizona, the love story has officially begun.