NFL executives respond to criticisms of Cardinals taking Jeremiyah Love during 2026 draft

ESPN's Dan Graziano is among the noteworthy members of the NFL community who have criticized a rebuilding Arizona Cardinals team for making Notre Dame Fighting Irish star running back Jeremiyah Love the third overall pick of the 2026 draft.

Graziano and others feel the Cardinals should have either traded the Love pick or used it to acquire somebody who plays a so-called premium position. Recently, Mike Sando of The Athletic spoke with team executives about what Arizona did and didn't do on the night of April 23. 

Was the Cardinals drafting Jeremiyah Love really about selling tickets, jerseys?

"They’re not one piece away, and they put money into (running back) Tyler Allgeier — like, I get why people push back on the Love pick," one executive said about the Cardinals' draft decision. "But at the same time, ownership is trying to sell tickets. They don’t have a face of the franchise, and this guy can fit that bill." 

The Cardinals likely have no long-term quarterback on their roster unless 2026 third-round draft pick Carson Beck becomes a revelation over the next eight months or so. That said, Arizona reportedly "couldn’t get" what the club wanted in return for the draft's third overall selection this spring. 

Time will tell if the Cardinals will regret not drafting Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Ty Simpson. The Los Angeles Rams surprisingly grabbed Simpson with the draft's 13th overall choice. 

Will Jeremiyah Love be special enough to make the Cardinals entertaining this coming fall?

"Is the roster ready for a running back? Probably not, but there was no real flashing light to pick other than Love," a different executive said while discussing the Cardinals. "If the owner wanted the back, like everybody said, that is not a hill you are going to die on as [general manager Monti Ossenfort]. Love is special." 

The Cardinals presumably could part ways with Ossenfort if they end the 2026 season near or at the bottom of the overall league standings. Thus, he may have felt he had no other choice than to draft Love if the executives are right about how team ownership views the exciting ball-carrier.