Story perspectives

Cardinals Draft Love No. 3 After Phone Mix-up

4/25/2026

Summary

Cardinals Draft Love

The Cardinals selected Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love with the No. 3 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
GM Monti Ossenfort said the team delayed after getting the wrong phone number, a problem worsened by the NFL’s rule limiting each franchise to one prospect contact after prank calls.
After the correct number was obtained, Ossenfort called Love, confirmed the pick before the draft clock expired, and called him a kid.

Summary

Love Signs Contract

Jeremiyah Love signed a fully guaranteed four-year, $53.9 million contract, the largest rookie deal for a running back.
The deal surpasses Saquon Barkley’s previous rookie record of $36 million, establishing a new financial benchmark.
Salary-cap analysts warn the $52.5 million average annual cost may limit Arizona’s ability to meet other roster needs.
Merchandise experts anticipate a surge in jersey sales driven by the “Love” branding and his social-media following.

History

Historical Context

The 2011 NFL-NFLPA collective bargaining agreement introduced a rookie wage scale and set the league salary cap at $120 million. That framework let the Arizona Cardinals, under GM Monti Ossenfort, award a fully guaranteed rookie contract in 2026 that eclipsed earlier benchmarks. Analysts warn such inflation could limit the Cardinals’ future cap flexibility.

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Cardinals Draft Love

The Cardinals selected Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love with the No. 3 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
GM Monti Ossenfort said the team delayed after getting the wrong phone number, a problem worsened by the NFL’s rule limiting each franchise to one prospect contact after prank calls.
After the correct number was obtained, Ossenfort called Love, confirmed the pick before the draft clock expired, and called him a kid.

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