Poll: Who Will Draft Jeremiyah Love?
NFL teams do not consider running back a premium position, which is why it takes a supreme talent for someone to spend prime draft capital on it. Over the past decade of drafts, Ashton Jeanty, Bijan Robinson, Saquon Barkley, Leonard Fournette and Ezekiel Elliott are the only running backs who have exited the board in the top 10. There are some years (most recently 2022 and ’24) in which the first round passes without anyone adding a back, but that will not be the case in the upcoming draft.
As arguably the preeminent prospect available at any position in the 2026 class, Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love is poised to become the latest back to hear his name called in the first 10 picks. Seven teams in that range – the Jets (No. 2), Cardinals (third), Titans (fourth), Giants (fifth), Commanders (seventh), Saints (eighth) and Bengals (10th) – have been connected to Love in the lead-up to the draft. Some of those clubs look like more realistic landing spots for Love than others, especially considering he is not expected to last past Washington’s pick.
Possessing blazing 4.36 speed, the 6-foot, 212-pound Love is heading to the pros on the heels of a brilliant couple of years with the Fighting Irish. Love averaged an eye-popping 6.9 yards per carry on 433 attempts, scored 35 rushing touchdowns and did not lose a fumble in 41 games at Notre Dame. Also a gifted receiver, Love combined for 55 catches and five more scores over the past two years. He earned the Doak Walker Award, which is given to the nation’s best back, last season.
With nine days left until Love finds out his NFL destination, let’s run down the teams in line to pick in the top 10. We can start by ruling out the Raiders, who selected Jeanty at No. 6 in 2025 and will take Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza first overall this year.
While the Jets recently had breakfast with Love, one of their key moves earlier in the offseason was to keep Breece Hall around via the franchise tag. General manager Darren Mougey and head coach Aaron Glenn have made their affinity for Hall known, pointing to a potential contract extension by the July 15 deadline. Not only that, but with defenders like David Bailey and Arvell Reese in contention for No. 2 overall, it would be a shock to see the Jets ignore that side of the ball.
The Cardinals had the second-worst running game in the league during an injury-plagued 2025 for James Conner and 2024 third-rounder Trey Benson. Those two are due back next season, and the Cardinals reeled in former Falcon Tyler Allgeier on a two-year, $12.25MM agreement in free agency. None of those players are game-changers, which leaves room for Love. But that would be a luxury pick for an Arizona team that has obvious weaknesses at right tackle and edge defender.
The Browns are in dire need of blue-chip offensive talent. However, having used a second-rounder on Quinshon Judkins last year, they seem more likely to address their receiving corps than their backfield if they go offense with their top choice.
If the Saints release or trade the soon-to-be 31-year-old Alvin Kamara, it would create a vacancy on their depth chart. However, grabbing Love just weeks after inking ex-Jaguar Travis Etienne to a four-year, $52MM pact in free agency would be a surprise. The Chiefs (No. 9) also made a sizable investment at the position during the first wave of free agency. Having signed former Seahawks Super Bowl LX MVP winner Kenneth Walker to a three-year, $43.05MM deal, they figure to use their initial pick on another position.
In the improbable event Love falls to the Bengals, maybe they will eschew glaring defensive needs to add another potential offensive superstar to a long-term core of Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Although the Bengals already have a quality dual-threat back in Chase Brown, he is not under contract past next season. There have been extension talks, but any chance of a multiyear deal will fly out the window if the Bengals choose Love.
Of the clubs in the top 10, the Titans, Giants and Commanders may be the best fits for Love. If it is the Titans or Giants, he would become the first RB to go in the top five since the latter took Barkley second overall in 2018. Eight years later, with no star-caliber back on the Giants’ roster, perhaps the new John Harbaugh regime will go with Love. The team “might just run that card up” if he is available, Connor Hughes of SNY says.
Titans running back Tony Pollard posted his fourth straight 1,000-yard season in 2025, but he will turn 29 at the end of April. Pollard also has just one year left on his contract. Unlike Love, Pollard has no chance to serve as a long-term sidekick for quarterback Cam Ward, the No. 1 pick in last year’s draft.
As a seventh-round rookie last season, the Commanders’ Jacory Croskey-Merritt vastly exceeded expectations in rushing for 875 yards on 175 carries (4.6 YPC). The man known as “Bill” also found the end zone eight times. Croskey-Merritt’s success is an argument that a team does not have to pour major resources into the position to find a viable solution. Washington has also been active in the backfield in free agency, having signed Rachaad White, Jerome Ford and Jeremy McNichols. The Commanders don’t need another RB, yet they are lacking elite-caliber weapons for third-year QB Jayden Daniels. If Love is sitting there at No. 7 and general manager Adam Peters likes him better than whichever receivers or defenders are on the board, perhaps he will take the plunge.
How do you expect the draft to play out for Love? Will one of the above teams or a dark horse end up with Love on April 23? Vote in PFR’s latest poll and weigh in with your thoughts in the comments section.
Who will draft Jeremiyah Love?
-
Titans 37% (586)
-
Commanders 18% (282)
-
Giants 17% (262)
-
Other 12% (182)
-
Cardinals 6% (97)
-
Saints 5% (79)
-
Bengals 3% (53)
-
Jets 3% (41)
Total votes: 1,582
Join The FREE PFR Newsletter!
Get the latest news sent directly to your inbox with the FREE Pro Football Rumors newsletter! We’ll be coming to you most weekday mornings with the top stories from the previous day. It’s the best way to monitor everything happening around the league.
Here’s what you can expect from the newsletter:
- A quick recap of newsworthy content from the past 24 hours
- Links to analysis from our talented team of writers
- Updates about breaking stories or upcoming news on the horizon
If we’re in your inbox, something notable just happened. Don’t miss out! Sign up below…
Giants, Dexter Lawrence At ‘Impasse’
The Giants have been in contract talks with disgruntled defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence, but those discussions have not been productive. The sides are at an “impasse,” Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. With the Giants continuing to discuss Lawrence in trades, a resolution is expected before the draft, per Rapoport.
Speaking with the media on Tuesday, general manager Joe Schoen indicated the Giants had not set a draft deadline to settle Lawrence’s future. It appears an answer will come by then, though. The Giants, who already own the fifth pick in the draft, are expected to get a first-rounder back if a Lawrence trade occurs, according to Connor Hughes of SNY. This is not considered a strong draft class for defensive tackles, which should boost Lawrence’s value across the league, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN notes.
As the 17th overall pick in 2019, Lawrence joined the Giants a few years before Schoen took over as their GM. Schoen, then in his second offseason on the job, authorized a four-year, $90MM extension for Lawrence in May 2023. The pact included $60MM in guarantees and made the two-time second-team All-Pro one of the richest defensive tackles in the NFL. Three years later, Lawrence ranks seventh among DTs in guarantees, 11th in total value and 13th in average salary.
Now unhappy with where he stands in the financial pecking order at his position, the 28-year-old Lawrence requested a trade last week. He is still signed through 2027 and due to count just under $27MM against the cap in each of the next two years.. Lawrence is owed a non-guaranteed $18.5MM base salary next season, but an acquiring team would have to give him a raise.
The Chargers are considered one “logical” fit, a source told Tyler Dragon of USA Today. That would mean a major trade between new Giants head coach John Harbaugh and Chargers HC Jim Harbaugh. The Harbaugh brothers most recently came together on a trade when the Ravens, then coached by John, sent edge defender Odafe Oweh to the Chargers for safety Alohi Gilman last October. The Chargers now have the third-most cap space in the league ($48.68MM), giving them ample room to pay Lawrence if they are interested in swinging a deal.
Even though John Harbaugh called Lawrence “super, super important” to the Giants’ defense in late February, the team has not been willing to meet the 6-foot-4, 340-pounder’s demands. Harbaugh and first-year senior VP of football ops and strategy Dawn Aponte have wrested power away from Schoen this offseason. All three have engaged in talks with Lawrence, but unless there is a 180 in negotiations over the next week-plus, it appears the four-time Pro Bowler will be on his way out soon.
‘All Signs’ Point To Jets Waiting Until 2027 Draft On QB
Our latest Trade Rumors Front Office piece covered teams’ patterns with regard to taking quarterbacks high in consecutive drafts. For the most part, there is next to no history of this happening in the modern era. The few examples that do exist of teams taking either a first- or second-round QB one year and then doing so again in the following draft involved the No. 1 overall pick falling to a team.
That raises the stakes for teams on Ty Simpson, a polarizing prospect whose draft landing spot has been perhaps the most intriguing component of this year’s draft (since Fernando Mendoza is all but certain to be chosen first overall). If there were a team positioned to both draft Simpson and then consider doubling up at QB early in the 2027 draft, it would be the Jets. The team holds four first- and second-round picks this year and is set to carry three firsts in 2027, creating a few windows for a quarterback investment.
[RELATED: Analyzing Simpson’s Prospect Profile]
While the Jets have been linked to Simpson during this year’s pre-draft process — to the point a recent report indicated the team was likely to exit Round 2 with a passer — they appear set to take their chances with what is expected to be a much richer QB crop in 2027. As it stands, “all signs” point to Gang Green making next year its window to make its draft move at QB, NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah said Tuesday (via ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini).
It is worth noting future draft classes have a tendency to not deliver promised goods. The 2026 class serves as a reminder. Our Ely Allen noted how long the wait could be before this year’s QB3 is chosen; at this time last year, the ’26 draft was expected to be much more fruitful at the position than it ended up being. One of the reasons the ’26 class underwhelmed: Oregon QB Dante Moore‘s decision to return to school. The Jets may well have loomed as a landing spot for Moore at No. 2 overall. Now, they will have a chance to evaluate more film on the Big Ten passer (among others) this coming fall.
A report earlier this month indicated the Jets were likely to pass on Simpson. The Jets indeed passing on the one-year Alabama starter at No. 16 (and perhaps again at No. 33) would invite risk, and after changing both offensive and defensive coordinators in his second year, Aaron Glenn is far from a lock to be back in 2027. No starter-level passer being chosen in this draft will run the risk of Glenn being fired before the franchise makes a true investment in the position.
Waiting a year also places plenty of pressure on Geno Smith, who joins a team that did not have a 400-yard receiver (thanks largely to Garrett Wilson‘s seven-game season) in 2025. Glenn has spoken highly of Smith, but the second-stint Jet will have plenty to say about whether Glenn makes it to the ’27 draft as head coach.
The organization gave its past two GMs — Joe Douglas, Mike Maccagnan — five drafts apiece. This points to Darren Mougey being given more time, and this offseason’s run of HC firings and GM retentions showed more staying power among the executive ranks. With Moore, Arch Manning and other intriguing arms expected to be part of the 2027 draft, Mougey may be more inclined to wait. The Jets do not carry high expectations into this season, which opens the door to their own pick checking in high in 2027. New York also owns Dallas and Indianapolis’ 2027 firsts, providing possible trade ammo.
Manning is not a lock to enter the 2027 draft. Neither of his high-profile uncles — Peyton and Eli — came out after junior seasons. Peyton famously passed on being the Jets’ No. 1 pick in 1997 to return to Tennessee, landing with the Colts a year later. Considering the patient approach the Manning family has taken with Arch, it would certainly not shock to see him stay at Texas for two more seasons. That would weaken the 2027 QB class, but the Jets are well positioned to be patient here due to the capital the Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams trades provided.
We could soon see a redux of the Jets’ late-2010s strategy, when they positioned Josh McCown as a bridge in 2017 — passing on the likes of Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson to take Jamal Adams — before trading up for Sam Darnold in 2018. If Simpson is not Big Apple-bound next week, a waiting game looks likely to commence once again.
Titans Out On Rueben Bain At No. 4?
Miami defensive end Rueben Bain Jr. is heading into the draft as a potential top-10 pick, but it does not appear the Titans are considering him at fourth overall. Bain is “not their guy,” Daniel Jeremiah of NFL Network hears.
The Titans have at least done their due diligence on Bain, whom they met with in late March. For his part, Jeremiah ranks Bain as the seventh-best prospect in the draft. The 6-foot-2, 263-pounder’s stock is high after he capped off a three-year run at Miami with his most productive season in 2025. Over 16 games, Bain tallied 54 tackles, 15.5 TFL, 9.5 sacks and the lone interception of his Hurricanes career. He was named a consensus All-American for his efforts.
Despite Bain’s prolific college output and considerable upside, there have been concerns over his arm length throughout the pre-draft process. His arms measured 30 7/8 inches at the Combine, which ranks in the 1st percentile and falls well below the 33-inch average. On a much more alarming note, it came to light over the weekend that Bain was the driver in a fatal car crash in 2024. Bain was cited for careless driving after a crash left one of his car’s passengers in a coma. She passed away three months later, though the charge against Bain was later dropped. The Titans found out about it last summer, but it “didn’t really” affect their evaluation of Bain, a source told Nick Suss of the Tennessean.
While Bain may not fit what the Titans are looking for, they are reportedly considering Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate with their top pick. Other possibilities include Texas Tech defensive end David Bailey, Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, and Ohio State linebackers Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles. Unless the team trades down, there is a high chance of one of those players becoming a member of the Titans on April 23.
Texans Targeting OL Prospects
The Texans have been active reshaping their offensive line this offseason, and they may not be done. ESPN’s DJ Bien-Aime expects the team to target linemen in the draft, with the writer citing Houston’s desire for “young, cost-effective talent.”
The Texans were quick to revamp the unit after the 2025 campaign. They first moved on from longtime starter Tytus Howard and former second-rounder Juice Scruggs before adding veterans Braden Smith and Wyatt Teller to the roster. The two new additions will be penciled into the starting lineup, adding to the three holdovers from last year.
2025 second-round pick Aireontae Ersery will continue at LT, while 2025 newcomers center Jake Andrews and guard Ed Ingram are expected to retain their starting spots. Houston even has Trent Brown for some experienced tackle depth. However, Bien-Aime notes the team still needs some long-term solutions at both center and guard. Considering Smith’s deal is for only two years, the Texans also wouldn’t shy away from an OT prospect.
Armed with the No. 28 pick and two second-round selections (No. 38, No 59), the Texans could be in prime position to find at least one long-term option for the OL. ESPN’s Jordan Reid points to Arizona State offensive tackle Max Iheanachor and Georgia Tech guard Keylan Rutledge as “names to circle” for Houston.
Iheanachor started each of the past two seasons on the Sun Devil offensive line, culminating in him earning a second-team All-Big 12 nod this past year. While he isn’t considered among the draft’s top offensive tackle prospects, he may be the best of the second tier. He would be a logical target for the Texans at No. 38. Similarly, Rutledge is among the second tier of guard prospects and could be an option at No. 59. The prospect earned a first-team All-American selection this past season following a standout showing with the Yellow Jackets.
Falcons Expected To Target DTs, WRs During Draft
As Ian Cunningham prepares for his first draft as Falcons general manager, he may be zeroing in on positions on both sides of the ball. As ESPN’s Jordan Reid writes, the Falcons have been connected to both defensive tackles and wide receivers.
Reid notes that the organization has done “an extensive amount of work” on defensive tackles. This isn’t a huge surprise as the Falcons ranked 24th against the run in 2025, and they lost their positional snaps leader in David Onyemata via free agency. While Ruke Orhorhoro and Brandon Dorlus provide the position grouping with a bit of experience, it only makes sense for the team to pursue some upside at the position during next week’s draft.
Of course, thanks to a trade with the Rams during last year’s draft that netted them James Pearce, the Falcons are currently operating without a first-round selection, meaning their first opportunity to add a DT would be at No. 48. Ohio State’s Kayden McDonald and Clemson’s Peter Woods surely won’t be on the board at that point, but the organization could look to the likes of Florida’s Caleb Banks or Georgia’s Christen Miller.
While wide receiver may not be the most apparent need for the Falcons, there is some merit to adding to the position. Drake London will continue leading the group, but the team has some question marks elsewhere on the depth chart. Darnell Mooney and David Sills are no longer in the building, with the Falcons adding Jahan Dotson and Olamide Zaccheaus in their place. However, neither of those additions should prevent the front office from pursuing additional reinforcements at the position, and Reid notes that the Falcons have made it known that desire a “field stretcher”.
While there’s a long list of talented WRs in this year’s draft, the Falcons will likely miss out on the top-tier at the position. Still, they could be in position to pounce on one of the second-tier wideouts, including Georgia’s Zachariah Branch, Tennessee’s Chris Brazzell, and Alabama’s Germie Bernard. Reid also points to North Dakota State’s Bryce Lance as a potential target for the organization.
Steelers Host Germie Bernard, Spencer Fano, Vega Ioane
Set to pick 21st overall in this year’s draft, the Steelers have been busy hosting potential first-rounders in the past couple of days. The Steelers visited with Alabama wide receiver Germie Bernard and Utah offensive lineman Spencer Fano on Monday, per Brooke Pryor of ESPN. They met with Penn State guard Vega Ioane on Tuesday, Pryor adds.
Bernard is more of a long-shot first-rounder than either Fano or Ioane, who look like shoo-ins to come off the board on Day 1. There is a chance Bernard will still be available when the Steelers are on the clock at No. 53 in the second round. Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com ranks the 6-foot-1, 206-pounder as the 50th-best prospect available, contending he should turn into a solid slot receiver in the pros.
Bernard would begin his career as a complement to the Steelers’ starting receivers, D.K. Metcalf and Michael Pittman. The team is lacking strong auxiliary options behind the two 6-foot-4 targets, making receiver a position of interest heading into the draft.
Bernard began his college career at Washington, but he found another gear after transferring to Alabama in 2024. He averaged 57 catches, 828 yards and just under five touchdowns per season in his two years with the Crimson Tide. Bernard formed a nice connection in 2025 with quarterback Ty Simpson, a speculative fit for the Steelers in this year’s draft. While the Steelers are not expected to take Simpson, the second-rated signal-caller in this class, he could be tempting if they still do not have an answer on 2025 starter and current free agent Aaron Rodgers‘ future by then. Perhaps there is a scenario in which Bernard and Simpson reunite in Pittsburgh in the next couple of weeks.
Whether Rodgers or someone else is under center for the Steelers in 2026, he could play behind a more talented group of blockers if the team addresses the unit early in the draft. The Steelers lost starting left guard Isaac Seumalo to the Cardinals in free agency, and they are likely to reject left tackle Broderick Jones‘ 2027 fifth-year option by the May 1 deadline. With multiple question marks up front, Pittsburgh is eyeing a couple of premier O-line prospects in Fano and Ioane.
Fano was a three-year starter at Utah, where he mostly played right tackle. A unanimous All-American in 2025, the 6-5, 311-pounder also has the talent to serve as a plug-and-play guard in the pros, according to Dane Brugler of The Athletic. Jeremiah ranks Fano as the 13th overall player in the class, while he checks in at No. 8 on Brugler’s list. The two are similarly high on Ioane (Jeremiah places him 11th, Brugler has him 12th), who is considered the best guard in the draft. Acquiring Fano or Ioane may be unrealistic for Pittsburgh unless it trades up, which could be a possibility for a club with a league-leading 12 picks. The Steelers’ haul includes three third-rounders and two fourths.
Alabama offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor, Ohio State defensive tackle Kayden McDonald and Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman may be other prospects to watch for the Steelers in the first round, according to Jason La Canfora of SportsBoom. Proctor is not expected to fall past the Lions at pick 17. If that is the case, the Steelers would have to move up for him.
Minor NFL Transactions: 4/14/26
Today’s minor moves:
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed ERFA tender: RB Kimani Vidal
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed ERFA tender: DE Jalen Redmond
With Omarion Hampton and Najee Harris both suffering injuries, Kimani Vidal unexpectedly led the Chargers in rushing attempts in 2025. The former sixth-round pick ended up having a productive sophomore season, finishing with 779 yards from scrimmage and four touchdowns. The Chargers did bring in Keaton Mitchell this offseason, but Vidal should still have a role on the team in 2026.
Jalen Redmond caught on with the Vikings ahead of the 2024 season and got some limited run on defense, but he emerged as a foundational piece in 2025. The defensive end ended up starting 15 of his 17 appearances this past year, finishing with 62 tackles and six sacks. Pro Football Focus was especially fond of his performance, ranking him 20th among 127 qualifying interior defenders in 2025.
Lions Hope To Extend LB Jack Campbell; Fifth-Year Option In Play
The NFL continues to group all linebackers together for valuation purposes, which has typically led to teams turning down fifth-year options for off-ball LBs. No team has exercised the fifth-year option at the position since the Buccaneers did so for Devin White in 2022. That may change in the next two-plus weeks.
[RELATED: Fifth-Year Option Tracker]
The Lions have until May 1 to make a decision on Jack Campbell‘s option. Unless an extension comes to fruition by then, the team is “certain to exercise” it, Justin Rogers of Detroit Football Network reports.
Armed with two first-round picks in the 2023 draft, Lions general manager Brad Holmes used the selections on a pair of non-premium positions. Before choosing Campbell 18th overall, he took running back Jahmyr Gibbs at No. 12. Campbell, Gibbs and second-rounders Sam LaPorta and Brian Branch have turned into excellent NFLers. All are now eligible for extensions, but keeping each of them from hitting free agency in a year may be a challenge for Holmes.
The Lions would like to get something done with Campbell by the end of April. Otherwise, they will be at risk of paying him a bloated $21.93MM on his fifth-year option salary in 2027. He would go by 49ers future Hall of Famer Fred Warner, whose average annual salary of $21MM paces the position. The worth of Campbell’s option escalated as a result of the Pro Bowl nod he earned last season. The former Iowa standout was also a first-team All-Pro in 2025. Campbell, who has never missed a game, put together his second straight 17-start campaign and notched career highs in tackles (176), TFL (nine), sacks (five) and forced fumbles (three). The 25-year-old finished behind one player, Warner, in Pro Football Focus’ off-ball LB rankings.
Warner inked his three-year, $63MM extension last May, at which point he was coming off his fourth first-team All-Pro showing. In addition to leading his position in AAV, he tops it in total value. Warner checks in second in guarantees ($56.7MM), trailing the Ravens’ Roquan Smith ($60MM). Warner, Smith, the Eagles’ Zack Baun, the Chiefs’ Nick Bolton and the Jets’ Jamien Sherwood are the only off-ball LBs earning at least $15MM per annum on multiyear pacts. Campbell has a strong argument to join the group in the next couple of weeks, especially with the cap on the rise and the value of his option providing him leverage.