Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Jeremiyah Love. Michael Caterina-Imagn Images

Teams with a top-five pick in 2026 NFL Draft shouldn't think twice about taking Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love

By Clark Dalton | Last updated Mar 2, 2026 1:35 PM ET

Teams that are in a position to take Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Jeremiyah Love during the 2026 NFL Draft (scheduled April 23-25 in Pittsburgh) shouldn't overthink it.

RBs have lost value in recent years and have a shorter shelf life than other positions. Despite that, clubs with a top-five pick in the draft should consider taking Love. He may be the best player in the class.

Why Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love could be a top-five pick in 2026 NFL Draft

On Monday, The Ringer's Todd McShay, a longtime draft guru, said Love remains his No. 1 overall player after the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. He mentioned the only other RB who has come close to being listed as his top prospect is Atlanta Falcons star Bijan Robinson, a 2025 Offensive Player of the Year finalist.

"I don't think Jeremiyah Love gets out of the top five, and it won't shock me if he's the third pick in this draft," McShay said on FanDuel's "Up & Adams."

"I don't think Jeremiyah Love gets out of the top five, and it won't shock me if he's the third pick in this draft."

NFL analyst Todd McShay expects BIG things for the Notre Dame RB in this year's draft@McShay13 | @heykayadams pic.twitter.com/S6Z8NexMZc
— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) March 2, 2026

Tankathon's latest mock draft has the Las Vegas Raiders selecting Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza (6-foot-5, 236 pounds), followed by the New York Jets grabbing Miami Hurricanes defensive end Rueben Bain Jr. (6-foot-2, 263 pounds). After that, things could get interesting.

The Arizona Cardinals own pick No. 3, while the Tennessee Titans hold No. 4. Per NBC Sports' Matthew Berry, the Titans scouting department believes Love is the best player in the draft.

Both teams could stand to improve their rushing attacks. Arizona ranked second to last in the league in rushing yards last season (93.1 yards per game), while Tennessee finished 30th (93.5 YPG).

Both teams feature veteran RBs, James Conner (Cardinals) and Tony Pollard (Titans), but Love offers a much higher ceiling.

Love (6-foot, 212 pounds) ran a 4.36 40-yard dash. That's a faster time than that of Philadelphia Eagles RB Saquon Barkley, who ran a 4.4 in 2018.

.@JeremiyahLove vs. @saquon

2026 NFL Combine on @nflnetwork
Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/Aza5bRaFtu
— NFL (@NFL) February 28, 2026

Those who care more about on-field production than combine workouts should know that Love checks that box as well. He won the 2025 Doak Walker Award as the best RB in college football after ranking eighth in the nation in rushing yards (1,372) and tying for third in rushing touchdowns (13).

"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. He's that kind of player," an NFC personnel director said of Love, via NFL.com's Lance Zierlein.

Love may be a special talent. Teams with an opportunity to add one shouldn't pass on it.

Clark Dalton

Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

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