Drafting running backs early in the first round is back in style. Ashton Jeanty went at No. 6 last year, and in 2023, Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs went eighth and 12th overall, respectively. This year’s draft is expected to add another name to the list. 
The running back most likely to continue this trend in 2026 is Notre Dame star Jeremiyah Love. Tennessee has been a popular projection, as both Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears are in the final years of their contracts. However, as ESPN’s Jordan Reid notes, Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi came up in a Chiefs front office that prioritized premium positions with premium draft picks. Taking a running back with the No. 4 pick – especially with needs at more valuable positions – would fly in the face of that philosophy.
If the Titans pass on Love, he will likely wind up in New York, according to Reid’s colleague, Matt Miller. New Giants head coach John Harbaugh may not have such qualms about Love’s position with more of an emphasis on his game-changing talent. He consistently prioritized a strong ground game in Baltimore, though the Ravens never drafted a running back in the first-round during his tenure.
Were New York to choose him, Love would immediately have the best draft pedigree of anyone in the Giants’ running backs room. Veteran Devin Singletary currently holds that honor as a former third-round pick out of FAU. Eric Gray and Tyrone Tracy were fifth-round picks in back-to-back years for New York, in 2023 and 2024, respectively. Singletary and Gray are also set to play on the final years of their contracts. Combined with last year’s fourth-round rookie, Cam Skattebo, there are plenty of mouths to feed, but inserting Love into the room immediately would change the outlook for the current players’ roles in the room.
If running back isn’t the answer in New York, the team’s top decision makers could start the trend for another position that isn’t notoriously taken early on Day 1. Harbaugh was part of a large contingent that attended the Ohio State Pro Day on Wednesday. It was notable enough to see Harbaugh there, given he hasn’t frequented many pro days in recent years, but in Columbus, Harbaugh, team owner Chris Mara, general manager Joe Schoen, assistant general manager Brandon Brown, and player personnel director Tim McDonnell all showed up to evaluate Buckeyes, and Harbaugh was seen getting some face time with standout safety Caleb Downs, according to ESPN’s Jordan Raanan.
The highest a safety has ever been drafted was second overall in 1991, when Eric Turner‘s name was called by the Browns. Since then, only two other safeties have even been drafted in the top five picks of the draft, Sean Taylor in 2004 and Eric Berry in 2010. Downs could be the next to join that list if the Giants decide to write his name down a month from now. Harbaugh’s defenses in Baltimore almost always featured strong safety play from names like Ed Reed, Eric Weddle, and Kyle Hamilton. Downs may be just the man to upgrade Big Blue’s defensive outfield in 2026.
Ely Allen contributed to this post.
This would be quite stupid for NYG. They have many other needs and a solid RB room as it stands.
Agreed. And as we saw this offseason, it’s a lot easier to find a good starting running back on the market than it is to find a high level receiver, corner, or other positions.
Let Skat back pound his head and body on his rookie contract and reassess after that.
Yeah, picking Love at 5 might make sense if they want to trade Skattebo for more draft capital.
Skattebo is a fourth round pick who had a nice half season before a season ending injury. He’s very fun and good to have for the Giants, but I don’t know how much anyone is trading for him.
Love is a really good prospect, but I just don’t think you can take a running back number five overall, basically ever. If you’re going to take a player in this draft at a less valued position this high, I’d go Styles or maybe even Downs.
That solid RB room can think pretty quickly if Skat gets hurt again and while Tracy is nice back, he’s not a game changer at all…..relying on Singletary would be a mistake over the greater season as nobody would respect the Giants running game….our new FB isn”t going to be a main focus of carrying the ball either…..while I totally agree there are multiple needs, if Love, who many consider a “gold jacket guy” is the last gold jacket guys available, why not pick him….gives the Giants a home run weapon and very possibly there might be someone on the phone willing to trade multiple picks for his rights…..a draft and trade is possible but the worst that happens is we get a bonafide very good RB room to fulfill Harbaugh’s interest in a pound and run game…..
Misdirection the giants are not letting people know who they are gonna pick. While Harbaugh loves having rbs not once did the ravens blow a 1st rounder for a rb. Giants are probably trading down, getting someone on defense, or getting a receiver.
All you need is LOVE.
Just ask the Packers.
He would have the highest guaranteed money total of any running back in football before he ever played a game.
This is simply the Giants putting out false rumors to not let someone jump them to take a player they really want, or possibly have someone just behind them trade up. I believe they are more likely looking at one of the three Ohio State defenders (Reese, Styles or Downs). The defense needs quality players in all three levels and drafting a RB at this point would be foolish.
D Henry is a HoF’er. If you think you have one on your radar, go for it; who cares about the ‘position value’.
Agreed, Barkley was a high pick at running back, and I’m sure they still regret letting him go help an archrival win a Super Bowl. I can’t think of too many misses picked that high, outside of Lawrence Phillips, Blair Thomas, Cedric Benson, and Kijana Carter.
Barkley didn’t help them win a thing and the O line didn’t make his life easy at all. They wasted his time. Why do it again? Love is a luxury, not someone you use the #5 pick on when you need so many other spots filled
Barkely carried the Eagles to a ring. Big difference between bad management and positional value.
“Barkely carried the Eagles to a ring.”
Because the Eagles had a much better team around him. He won nothing on the Giants. They should have traded out of that pick and let a better team draft him. Drafting Love here would be a mistake when they desperately need defensive help (one of the worst run defenses in NFL history) and already have a good crew of RBs. OL is also a much bigger position of need.
I Agree. The Eagles are much better run franchise than the Giants.
No arguments here, Arty, especially in the last 10+ years. Giants are with the Raiders and Jets as worst run franchises in the NFL. Hoping Harbaugh changes that but we will see.
Add in Miami, Cards, Browns and Bengals to that list. Chargers are a bland franchise.
How could I forget the Browns!
Atlanta is like the Chargers another boring team every year.
The Vikings were put in this position in 2007. They had just signed Chester Taylor a year earlier, he ran for over 1,200 yards, and even had a 95 yard run in 2006, but they had Adrian Peterson fall to the 7th overall pick. If you like a player that much, you can’t say no.
Barkley’s talents were wasted by ignoring the O-Line or horrible drafting that didn’t give him even an average line to run behind….Love may very well be a game changer..homerun…type of offensive player, and while I and many would rather the pick by Downs or Styles, if they are gone, Love is a terrific booby prize….
Yeah….not D Henry
They are good enough at RB. They need a HOFer at LB
No they’re not…Skat is marketable but his durability is of question based on his running style….Tracy is a nice back but what happens if he gets hurt….Singletary doesn’t scare anyone and our new FB is primarily a blocker not a runner…..that’s pretty thin when you want to ground and pound as the HC has said he wants to do…..
10:1 says they are not taking Love with that pick, especially with the backs they already have. Someone trying to pump Love’s stock here, but it ain’t happening. Expecting he goes no lower than around 14 in the draft.
Don’t let the nerds lecture you about “positional value”. You do have to take into consideration, but if you have a potential all-pro at RB available to you then you do it. Skattebo had a significant injury and Tyrone Tracy is merely serviceable. Love helps Dart out a ton and that’s what matters most for NYG.
I hear you but they have so many other holes that spending the #5 overall pick on a position they don’t really have a need at is stupid. By yards per carry, they had a top 10 worst run defense in NFL history and before their last stretch of games against garbage teams (Commanders, Raiders, Max Brosmer Vikings, one half of Dak Cowboys) they had literally the worst ypc in NFL history. They need DT, ILB, S way before they need to blow another top pick on RB. They also need OL as they literally don’t have a RG right now unless you want to plug Evan Neal in there.
I would even put WR at more of a need than RB as it’s Nabers, an underperforming Slayton who’ll probably get cut at season’s end, and a bunch of guys on prove-it deals.
Would Love provide value? Of course. But you’re building a football team, not a fantasy team. Building an overall good team is ‘what matters most for NYG’.
They will probably be so happy if Tennessee takes him at #4
How many super bowls did the titans win with Derrick Henry? None. RB is a luxury position used to finish a roster not build one.
He’s a wild card
I think he ends up in Washington DC.
This feels like shedeur last year
Downs
don’t buy Love going to the Giants for a second. Styles is probably the best defensive player that will be available at 5, but I think they go Downs. He’s a big play guy with a high floor and ceiling and the Giants secondary needs help.
The headline makes me think the Giants have decided to borrow Madden ratings from the Jets 🙂
With all the needs on defense the Bengals ( or at least the podcast goobers) are saying the team needs to draft Love. Chase Brown is a wrecking ball, so why would you waste a pick on a running back? Styles, Delane, Bain, etc etc whoever drops to the 10th pick is who they should grab. (IMHO)
It’s smoke screen season.
I would go Styles is he is there at 5, if not trade down a few spots and take Downs while getting back a 3rd round pick which they do not currently have.
Downs isn’t lasting past 6…so a trade down hoping he’s there isn’t going to happen…..
Please make sure the Titans pass on him and let the Giants take him. Bust loading….
Styles needs to be the pick or trade down for more assets
NYG picking an RB would such a dumb delusional pick. They picked Saquon when they had way more important holes to fill. I’m a Raider fan, and them picking Ashton was a dumb thing to do. Bad teams shouldn’t pick RBs in the early first. Good teams have that luxury, not the Giants and Raiders. Yet, this comment section is full of Giant fans still cheering the idea lol