Full Breakdown
Cardinals select Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love with No. 3 overall
4/24/2026, 9:23:29 PM
The Draft Decision
On April 23, 2026 the Arizona Cardinals used the third overall pick of the NFL Draft to select Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, making him the highest-drafted running back since Saquon Barkley’s No. 2 selection in 2018.
Background & Context
Arizona entered the draft after a 2025 season that ended 3-14 (some outlets reported 4-13) and a league-worst 31st-ranked rushing attack (93.1 yards per game, nine touchdowns). The franchise hired first-year head coach Mike LaFleur, formerly the Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator, and retained general manager Monti Ossenfort. The team also overhauled the left side of its line with veteran guard Isaac Seumalo but left the right side unsettled.
Key Figures
- Jeremiyah Love – 6-0, 212 lb, unanimous All-American, Doak Walker Award winner, third-place Heisman finalist.
- Mike LaFleur – Head coach, tasked with integrating Love as a three-down back.
- Monti Ossenfort – General manager, defended the pick and addressed draft-day logistics.
- Michael Bidwill – Owner, noted fan excitement.
- James Conner, Tyler Allgeier, Trey Benson – Existing backs in a crowded backfield.
Data & Statistics
Love rushed for 1,372 yards (6.9 YPC) and 18 touchdowns in his final college season, added 27 receptions for 280 yards and three receiving scores, and posted a 4.36-second 40-yard dash at the combine. Over his last two collegiate seasons he amassed 2,497 rushing yards and 35 touchdowns. Spotrac lists his rookie contract at four years, $50.5 million fully guaranteed (average $12.5 million per year); Front Office Sports reports $53.02 million, while CBS Sports cites $53.9 million, all placing him among the top-seven paid running backs by average annual value.
Official Statements & Responses
Ossenfort explained that the pick was not delayed by trade talks, noting only “surface-level conversations” and a mis-dialed phone number that caused a brief pause. LaFleur said Love fits the “run, pass and protection” phases of his offense and will be a “three-down weapon.” Bidwill highlighted the selection as a “juice-giving” move to energize the fan base after years of low attendance.
Criticism & Opposition
Analysts such as Matt Johnson (Sportsnaut) and Scotty Payne (SB Nation) warned that investing a top-five pick in a running back on a roster already containing Conner, Allgeier and Benson repeats a pattern that often fails for struggling teams. Dan Graziano (ESPN) labeled the choice a “terrible pick” given Arizona’s pressing needs at quarterback, edge rusher and right tackle, and questioned the long-term value of a high-guaranteed RB contract.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Contract figures differ by up to $3.4 million across sources. The Cardinals’ 2025 record is reported as 3-14, 4-13, and 4-13 in separate outlets. Average annual salary is cited as $12.5 million (Spotrac) and $13.255 million (Front Office Sports). No official breakdown of the right-side offensive-line upgrades has been released.
Verbatim Quotes
- “You don’t draft because you want your fans to jump up and down at a draft party. But you also don’t draft not to give them some juice,” — Charles Davis, NFL.com analyst
- “If you want me to tell you the honest-to-god truth, we had the wrong phone number. The phone number that we were given was the wrong one. That was a little bit of the delay, so we got that straightened out. We called [Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back] Jeremiyah [Love, and we got a hold of him,” — Monti Ossenfort, Cardinals GM
- “I have the opportunity to really set a new standard for running backs.” — Jeremiyah Love, rookie RB
- “What’s unique about (Love), in my opinion, is all three phases,” — Mike LaFleur, Cardinals head coach
- “[Love is a] three-phase running back capable of stressing defenses with big-play speed and untapped pass-catching value,” — Lance Zierlein, NFL Network analyst
Why It Matters
Selecting Love gives Arizona a potential game-changing playmaker, boosts merchandise sales, and resets the market for rookie running-back contracts. If Love thrives, the move could validate a “best-player-available” draft philosophy for rebuilding teams.
What’s Next
The Cardinals will finalize Love’s contract this week, address right-tackle and edge-rusher needs on Day 2 of the draft, and begin training camp in July where Love will compete for the primary backfield role.
