Jeremiyah Love's Stock Rising With Arizona, But Cards Have a Crowded Backfield Problem

The Arizona Cardinals hold the third overall pick, and the closer we get to draft day, the more wild rumors are swirling about what they might actually do. Trade down? Stand pat and grab a cornerstone pass rusher? Or make a move that absolutely nobody saw coming?

Here's where it gets interesting: while edge rusher and right tackle have been the consensus mocks to Arizona, there's legitimate smoke around a potential left-field pick that has the draft community talking.

Love Exploded at the Combine, and Now Insiders Can't Stop Talking About Him

Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love lit up the NFL combine earlier this offseason and immediately climbed draft boards. Some analysts were even throwing out his name for Arizona at number three overall. That seemed bonkers at first, but now ESPN's Peter Schrager and NFL draft analyst Todd McShay are both signaling that Love is a legitimate wild card to monitor in the desert.

Schrager specifically said: "With the changing of eras in Arizona, the Cards should be seeking out new cornerstone pieces like Reese this month. Speaking of which: One wild card to watch here is Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love."

McShay went further, reporting there's strong internal push from inside Arizona's building to draft Love with that third pick. This isn't just media speculation. Something is brewing.

But Arizona's Running Back Room Is Already Packed

Here's the problem: the Cardinals signed free agent Tyler Allgeier to a multi-year deal to be their lead back. James Conner got restructured to stick around for 2026. They've also got young guys like Trey Benson and Bam Knight competing for carries. That's five running backs in the mix, not four.

Using the third overall pick on a sixth running back, when edge rusher and right tackle are still glaring holes, would be terrible asset management. Love has elite potential and could eventually become one of the league's best runners, but there's a time and place for that pick, and this isn't it. Not when Arizona needs to address premium positions that could define the next era.

The Cardinals still have massive roster needs to fill. Love or not, the focus has to be on those cornerstone pieces first.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.