GLENDALE – Just a few days till the 2026 NFL Draft and a favorite might’ve finally emerged for the Arizona Cardinals. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Monday Morning that Norte Dame running back Jeremiyah Love is very much “in play” third overall to Arizona. There has been rumors the past couple of weeks that the franchise could consider taking the All-American, but always was shot down for other prospects.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!However, Monday’s report shows that the Cardinals are seriously locked in to Love and can used that to draft him or trade for massive package from a rival team trying to snag the running back.
Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love (4) makes a heart sign after scoring a touchdown in the first half of a NCAA football game against Syracuse at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025, in South Bend. © MICHAEL CLUBB/SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Schefter on social media about Cardinals view on Love:
“There is growing chatter in league circles that Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love is in play with Arizona at No. 3 overall. Ideally, the Cardinals would like to find a team willing to trade up so they can acquire more picks, and there have already been “exploratory” calls, as one source described it, regarding the No. 3 selection. But if the Cardinals hold on to their pick, some around the league believe they could pull an early draft surprise and select Love.”
Feb 3, 2026; Tempe, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort at a press conference at the Cardinals training facility. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Arizona signed free agent running back Tyler Allgeier this offseason, making draft a running back third overall a questionable decision. Regardless, general manager Monti Ossenfort isn’t going to let a player making $5 million annual dictate his choice for the team’s top pick. ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. has Love as the second best prospect in the draft, behind Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza, making the possibly selection by Ossenfort not a crazy reach.
Another angle that the Cardinals could be trying to do with this report is ramp up the trade packages that they have received for the third pick. Teams like the Washington Commanders, Tennessee Titans, Kansas City Chiefs and more have all been connected to Love during this Pre-Draft process. Plenty teams are interested, and if Ossenfort makes it seem like Love is a real choice at three, then the packages will improve tenfold.
Jeremiyah Love “in play” for Cardinals third overall in 2026 NFL Draft
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Reporter Tanner Tortorella covers general assignment for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @TannerTSports
