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The Arizona Cardinals went with a true playmaker on offense, selecting Notre Dame running back Jeremiah Love with the third overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Many believed heading into Thursday night’s first round that Arizona was a perfect trade candidate because teams could have paid a premium to land either Love or someone else they coveted.
It looked that way as the clock ticked closer to zero, but the Cardinals ended up pocketing their pick and landed the consensus top back in this 2026 class.
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Jeremiah Love of Notre Dame celebrates after being selected third overall by the Arizona Cardinals during the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh on April 23, 2026. (Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
Love became the highest drafted running back since the New York Giants selected Saquon Barkley second overall out of Penn State in 2018. And he joins a Cardinals offense that will be revamped under new head coach Mike LaFleur.
It’s a West Coast-style offense for LaFleur, and he gets a speedy Love, who ran a 4.36 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. The tape also speaks for itself, with Love displaying explosive physicality as well as strength in the trenches.
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Love also joins a veteran in James Conner and Tyler Allgeier signed with the Cardinals this offseason. But Love has the talent to separate himself from the rest, and many believe he was the best overall player in this draft.
Jeremiah Love of Notre Dame arrives in Pittsburgh before the 2026 NFL Draft April 23, 2026. (Jason Miller/Getty Images)
Love ran for 1,372 yards and 18 touchdowns this past season for the Fighting Irish, while surpassing 100 yards in six of his 14 carries. He even rushed for a whopping 228 yards against the USC Trojans.
Since the Cardinals didn’t have a single 100-yard rusher this past season, they bring in someone who can provide juice for the new-look offense.
It’s also a new look with Kyler Murray out after he went to the Minnesota Vikings following his release from Arizona.
Jeremiah Love of Notre Dame poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected third overall by the Arizona Cardinals during the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh on April 23, 2026. (Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
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The Cardinals, at least for now, are heading into the 2026 season with Jacoby Brissett, the veteran journeyman who took over for the injured Murray last year, as their starting quarterback.
