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INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 27: Jeremiyah Love of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish speaks to the media during the 2026 NFL Draft Combine at the Indiana Convention Center on February 27, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)

The Arizona Cardinals have opted to stay at the No. 3 overall pick. 

But instead of taking a premier pass rusher or offensive lineman, they have selected running back Jeremiyah Love with the No. 3 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

The former Notre Dame phenom had been connected to the Cardinals since early March. Now, he will be playing under first-year head coach Mike LaFleur.

Taking Love ensures creating a dynamic backfield for LaFleur, as the Cardinals look to get out of the basement of the NFC West.

While quarterback is Arizona’s biggest need, Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza was the only signal-caller worthy of that high of a selection. Mendoza was taken by the Las Vegas Raiders with the No. 1 overall pick.

What Will Love Bring to the Arizona Cardinals?

Love is one of the premier offensive players in the draft, and for good reason. He has been a stud ever since he got consistent playing time in 2024.

Love has rushed for 2,497 yards over the last two seasons, averaging 6.9 yards per carry and scoring 35 touchdowns on the ground. He also added 517 receiving yards and five touchdowns since then.

Love was a Heisman finalist, finishing third in voting, as well as an All-American in 2025. He also won the Doak Walker Award for the top running back in college football. Despite playing just 12 games, Love had 1652 yards from scrimmage and 21 touchdowns.

He showed off in the combine with a beyond-impressive 4.36 40-yard dash time. Lance Zierlein of NFL Network compares Love to superstar running back Jahmyr Gibbs.

“[Love is a] three-phase running back capable of stressing defenses with big-play speed and untapped pass-catching value,” Zierlein wrote. “Love shared carries but was the heartbeat of Notre Dame’s offense over the last two years. He runs with a fierce tempo and processes the front with adequate eyes to find entry points and burst through them.”

But was this the right fit?

How Does Love Fit on the Team?

Love can definitely engineer an offense, as he did for two seasons with Notre Dame.

However, for an NFL running back to get free in today’s game, they need a strong offensive line in front of them. But the Cardinals don’t have a strong offensive line.

Arizona gave up 59 sacks in 2025 and did not address the line by taking a blue-chip prospect like Francis Mauigoa.

While Love has the speed to break away, will it be enough?

This doesn’t even take into account the fit on the team. Incumbent running backs James Conner and Trey Benson were likely to have roles on the team in 2026, as well as new signee Tyler Allgeier.

Now, that seems not as likely to happen with the selection of Love. He’s expected to be a three-down back.

With the recent restructuring of James Conner’s contract, he could soon see his way out of the desert.

Will the Love pick work out? That remains to be seen. But the Cardinals got a blue-chip player to start the Mike LaFleur era.