The Arizona Cardinals are rolling out the red carpet for their newest star, first-round draft pick Jeremiyah Love. During rookie minicamp this past week, the team's social media has been buzzing with content and interviews centered around the dynamic running back. But one moment stood out above the rest: a heartfelt passing of the torch from two franchise legends.

Love received a welcome video from former All-Pro running back David Johnson and linebacker Markus Golden—two pillars of the Cardinals' most electrifying era. For the third overall pick, it was a powerful gesture that set the tone for his rookie season.

Johnson and Golden arrived in Arizona together in 2015, drafted in back-to-back rounds. Their impact was immediate, fueling a 13-win regular season that remains the best in franchise history. Though the team fell short in the NFC Championship game, that young core promised a bright future. But NFL fortunes shift quickly. Head coach Bruce Arians departed two years later, Golden followed the year after, and Johnson was traded in 2019. The once-promising core dissolved as the franchise turned toward Kyler Murray and a new era. Now, seven years later, that chapter has closed—and Love's arrival signals a fresh start.

In his video message, Johnson urged Love to carry the torch for all running backs, proving that drafting one third overall is anything but a reach. Johnson himself burst onto the scene as a rookie, silencing doubters about youth and inexperience. Love now has the same chance to reignite a Cardinals team that finished 3-14 last season. While matching the magic of 2015 may seem like a long shot, Love's explosive skillset gives Arizona a reason to believe.