Cardinals first-round running back Jeremiyah Love has signed his four-year rookie contract, the team announced. The third overall pick will earn a fully guaranteed $53.9MM, a record for his position.
Although he has yet to play an NFL game, the 20-year-old Love also ranks first among running backs in total contract value. The former Notre Dame star’s $13.25MM average annual salary checks in at seventh overall.
While Love does not play a premium position, many considered him the most talented prospect available in this year’s draft class. The Cardinals had more glaring needs at other spots (right tackle and edge defender, to name a couple), but they could not pass on the home run-hitting dual threat. They made Love the highest-drafted RB since the Giants took Saquon Barkley second overall in 2018.
Love is moving to the desert after winning the Doak Walker Award as the nation’s best back in 2025. He ended his three-year college career with a jaw-dropping 6.7 yards per carry on 433 attempts and 42 touchdowns (36 rushing, six receiving) in 41 games.
The Cardinals were not expected to draft Love in early March, when they made multiple moves to address their backfield. They kept James Conner around on a revised contract and picked up former Falcon Tyler Allgeier on a two-year, $12.25MM deal in free agency. Love is now the unquestioned top dog at the position, though, which will leave Allgeier to once again sit behind one of the most talented backs in the sport.
Allgeier surpassed the 1,000-yard mark as a fifth-round rookie in 2022, but it did not stop the Falcons from spending the eighth overall pick on Bijan Robinson in the ensuing draft. Robinson has been the Falcons’ starter since then. While Allgeier likely signed with the Cardinals expecting to take over as their lead back, he will instead play second fiddle to Love.
This is an insane salary for this guy.
$8 million more in guarantees than Breece Hall got on his entire extension. One of several reasons it’s absolutely bananas to take a running back at #3 overall. And I think Love will be really good. Still bananas.
That’s what I came in to say. You can get a very good RB for similar money, and have added a guy like Reese.
Yep. Or they could have traded down like the Browns did, added more picks, and still gotten a very good right tackle prospect, which is much scarcer and more expensive (AND more of a need).
In Arizona, all you need is LOVE !!