After buzz connected the Cardinals to Jeremiyah Love, the top running back in the 2026 class is indeed Arizona-bound. Love has been drafted third overall. The Notre Dame product becomes the highest drafted running back in the NFL since the Saquon Barkley went second overall eight years ago.
Love was by far the consensus top running back of the 2026 class. His backup with the Fighting Irish, Jadarian Price, is widely considered RB2 and may have to wait until Day 2 of the draft to hear is name. Ever since taking over the starting job as a sophomore, Love has been perhaps the most electric running back in college football. In two years as RB1, he combined for 2,497 rushing yards and 35 rushing touchdowns in just 28 games.
Love joins a crowded running backs room in Arizona that is likely about to clear out to make room for his star power. James Conner has been the man for the Cardinals since coming over from Pittsburgh in 2021. Over his first four years with the team, Conner averaged 917 yards per season with 37 touchdowns, but in 2025, injuries limited him to only three games. The team also signed former Falcons running back Tyler Allgeier in free agency after four strong years as a backup in Atlanta.
There’s little question Love will be RB1 once he arrives in Arizona. With draft pick salaries automatically set per slot, Love will easily be the team’s highest-paid rusher on a fully guaranteed four-year, $53.02MM rookie contract. He also become the seventh highest-paid running back in the NFL by annual average value, but his guaranteed money will exceed even that of Barkley.
Ely Allen contributed to this post.
Insane. I think he’ll be very good, but insane to take a running back at three, especially with major holes at positions that are much harder and more expensive to fill.
Until the guy runs for 1400 yards a year for 10 years. Everybody has multiple holes. If you can fill that hole with a day 1 starter you do it. This dumb trend of “don’t draft a RB high” is lame. F the position, grab the best player available and figure it out.
Nope. Positional value matters. Want to fix your run game? Fix your line first.
I do not subscribe to the “positional value” theory or mantra. I like running backs. I have no issue drafting them high in the right situation…
…but this ain’t it. Terrible pick. Wrong team, wrong spot, wrong situation.
Allgier, Benson, Conner and now Love, wow. Someone’s gonna be out
Said same thing. Could be Connor
Hello mock draft, meet dynamite…BOOM! Mock drafts across the country all blowed up now.
I told you the Giants wouldn’t draft him 😂
You don’t draft a running back first round unless you’re going to be a run first team, 30 touches a game. You don’t draft one of a committee at 3rd overall, you have to draft at no. 3 a guy who’ll.see 90 percent of the snaps. If AZ is jow gonna go.old school then ok fine good pick then. But this is drafting bpa is overrated.
Wowzers
Very run heavy team next year I guess