Could Jets really draft the latest star they visited with?

There’s a clear-cut favorite for the New York Jets’ second overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft.

Ohio State edge rusher Arvell Reese is widely expected to land with the Jets at the end of April. He solves a major need on defense for New York and provides the versatility the organization covets.

That hasn’t stopped the Jets from meeting with other players expected to be selected in the top 10, though. Brian Costello of the New York Post reported this week that the team had breakfast with Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love.

Is that just a matter of a team doing due diligence? Or is there legitimate interest for Gang Green to add perhaps the best offensive weapon in the draft class?

Will Jets fall in Love?

Let’s tackle the initial meeting at breakfast first. If an organization is meeting with a player over pancakes, it’s safe to assume a formal interview has taken place.

It adds a new wrinkle to what the Jets could do with the second overall pick.

New York finished with just three wins last season, in large part because it fielded one of the worst offenses in the league. Gang Green couldn’t throw the ball, and it overwhelmed what was a serviceable running game.

Pairing Love with Breece Hall could make the Jets’ rushing attack fool-proof—too good to be limited by any degree of passing struggles.

The Jets are in the market for top players who can help their team right away. If they believe Love is the best non-quarterback of the 2026 draft class, then the team could absolutely look to use the second pick on him.

Should that be the case, it would be the highest a running back has been taken in the draft since Saquon Barkley in 2018.

Jeremiyah Love draft profile

“Transcendent” is a word that’s often overused in the draft scouting process. Analysts try to drum up hype for certain prospects by comparing them to other legends at their position.

In the case of Love, though, “transcendent” might be the right word to use.

Over the last two years at Notre Dame, Love racked up 2,497 rushing yards and 35 rushing touchdowns while averaging a shocking 6.9 yards per carry. He added impressive receiving skills, catching 55 passes for 517 yards and five touchdowns. His dual-threat ability as a pass catcher and explosive runner makes him one of the draft’s most dynamic players.

“It’s hard to extend drives, so you look for skill players who get you to the end zone with the least amount of plays,” an NFC personnel executive told NFL Network. “He’s that kind of player.”

At six feet and 212 pounds, Love is the perfect size to carry the load of an offense on his own. Throw in his 4.36 forty time at the combine, and he offers the rare blend of size and speed that gets running backs drafted in the top 10.

Teams will be cognizant of his near 500 touches in college, especially with the short shelf life of running backs, but Love is the type of running back prospect that teams are eager to draft early.

For the Jets, though, a potential pairing would cause an awkward conversation with one of their current top players.

The Breece Hall factor

The biggest reason why New York’s meeting with Love is so noteworthy is that the team already has a top running back on their roster. Breece Hall was placed on the franchise tag this offseason, which pays him as a top-five player at his position.

Gang Green has also confirmed their desire to lock up Hall for a long-term contract.

“Things are in a good place and I’m hopeful with Breece,” Jets general manager Darren Mougey said. “Obviously, we’ll get through this draft process. And after the draft, kind of shift my focus back there and hopefully get something done with Breece.”

Adding Love as a top pick in the draft would alter New York’s approach with Hall. Instead of having to pay the former second-round pick, the Jets could simply allow him to walk the following offseason and focus solely on Love as an offensive catalyst, riding him throughout the duration of his rookie contract.

It would be a similar dynamic to what the Detroit Lions had with David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs over the last few seasons.

Such an idea could lead the Jets to do something that would shock the world in the 2026 NFL draft.