Scout, executives seem to warn teams about making this Jeremiyah Love NFL Draft decision

The topic of whether or not any team should spend what's considered to be a high-value draft pick on a running back is once again generating debates on sports-talk programs as Notre Dame Fighting Irish star Jeremiyah Love prepares to land with a club on the opening night of this year's player-selection process. 

For a piece published on Thursday, Jeff Howe of The Athletic spoke with a team scout and NFL executives who seemed to warn clubs about passing on Love simply because of his position. 

Why Jeremiyah Love is worth a high draft pick

"He’s one of the best players in this draft, if not the best," the scout said about Love. "I think smart teams will see the player and not the position." 

Dane Brugler of The Athletic and ESPN's Field Yates are among analysts who have Love ranked as the second-best overall prospect in this year's draft class. That said, quarterback Fernando Mendoza, pass-rusher Arvell Reese and defensive end David Bailey are expected to become the draft's first three picks on the night of April 23. 

Recently, Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman referred to Love as a "unicorn" offensive weapon. One executive who chatted with Howe agrees with that assessment. 

"He’s a running back, but he’s also a playmaker, so that changes the equation a bit," the executive said about Love. "You’re not just talking about giving him the ball 20 times and hoping he gets 90 yards. He can change the field and do it on his own, and he can do it in the passing game. You want as many impact players as you can get. The running back-value debate, he still projects as an impact player on offense at a playmaking position."

Jeremiyah Love is linked with these two teams

One Thursday report suggested that the Tennessee Titans will either select a defensive player with the draft's fourth pick or trade that selection to a team interested in Love. According to Howe, "teams absolutely believe Love is in play for the Tennessee Titans" at choice No. 4. 

"New York Giants coach John Harbaugh, who holds the No. 5 pick, has a long affinity for premium running backs, so they could also be in play," Howe added. 

For an article produced by Conor Orr of Sports Illustrated that went public on Wednesday, he detailed how Love "transformed nearly everyone he came in contact with" while at Notre Dame, in part because "his off-field heroics carry with them a weighty sense of morality and justice." 

In short, Love seems to check just about every box regarding what teams want in a player other than the one related to his position.

"The kid is a stud," a second executive told Howe while speaking about Love. "Everything is aces, so you feel really good about (drafting him so high) from that standpoint because he’s such a clean person." 

It remains to be seen if the Titans, Giants or a different team will make Love a top-five pick on the fourth Thursday of April.