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Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back might be the most talented player in the 2026 NFL Draft. He might also be the most polarizing, at least for a moment in late April.
There's little debate about Love's talent. He entered the year as the consensus RB1, and it didn't take long for those lagging behind (yours truly had him behind Nick Singleton) to come around. Love was a Heisman finalist for a reason, and he'll be the first running back drafted in April.
The only remaining arguments pertain to where he should go on Day 1 and just how high his stock could rise. That carries some vitriol -- positional value is still a dominant roster-building theory -- but Love has done everything necessary to make his case for a top-10 selection.
Even so, his path to being a top-10 pick became more difficult during the legal tampering period ahead of NFL free agency.
Jeremiyah Love's landing spots added running backs
Part of why Love seemed like a lock to go early in Round 1 was the number of potential suitors with needs in the backfield.
The New York Jets had a Breece Hall decision to make. The Arizona Cardinals' backfield was unsettled, the Kansas City Chiefs were positioned to pair Love with Patrick Mahomes, and the New Orleans Saints lacked an offensive headliner.
Then the transactions commenced. Before the legal tampering period began, the Jets tagged Hall. The Cardinals have since signed Tyler Allgeier. Both the Chiefs and Saints made high-profile additions to the ground game by inking Kenneth Walker III and Travis Etienne Jr., respectively.
That's bad news for Love, who just saw four teams in the top 10 secure starter-level backs.
Other teams picking early aren't quite as ready for a first-round back. The Washington Commanders could use him, but are more than a running back away from contention. The Cincinnati Bengals aren't in a rush to move on from Chase Brown, and passing on a defensive star could turn mutinous.
Could the Dallas Cowboys, picking 12th, pick up the tab? Signing Javonte Williams suggests otherwise, but Jerry Jones may not be able to keep his hands off that kind of star potential showing out at Jerry World. The Los Angeles Rams seem happy to ride with Kyren Williams, and Derrick Henry isn't ready to be replaced. Maybe Bucky Irving is in Tampa Bay?
It isn't immediately clear where Love will land, but the floor of his stock has taken a hit. Maybe a trade opens up something for the Jets at No. 16. Perhaps the Minnesota Vikings get involved two picks later. Even so, it's easier to envision Love falling later than anticipated in Round 1.
MORE: Top athletic comparisons for Jeremiyah Love after the NFL Combine
Fear not, Fighting Irish faithful. Free agency may have played matchmaker with running backs and landing spots, but Love's talent will push the needle. Nowhere has that become more of a conversation (at least in the top 10) than the New York Giants at No. 5.
New York has surrounded quarterback Jaxson Dart with a strong offensive line and a superstar receiver. The Giants have added talent at tight end and linebacker, too. With cult hero Cam Skattebo recovering from a season-ending ankle injury, there's reason to believe he might not be the same in 2026.
Pairing Love with Skattebo would make for a less predictable offense, keep both backs fresh, and raise the ceiling of the offense. It's a more justifiable decision than the last Giants running back taken in Round 1, with quarterback and offensive line mostly settled.
New York expects to be better in 2026, which means more leads and additional opportunities to let a running back take over late in games. Paired with a head coach happy to let a running back lead the way and a quarterback who would benefit from a lighter load, Love makes a good amount of sense in East Rutherford.
Free agency hasn't fared well for Love's stock, but with the Giants and Tennessee Titans still considering his talents, we can't be certain that these spending sprees will precipitate a fall in Round 1.
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