Jeremiyah Love draft pick for Cardinals at 3rd overall is a problem for one RB positional value reason originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Jeremiyah Love was one of the best couple players available in the 2026 NFL Draft. That's not the problem.
The problem is that the superstar from Notre Dame, who was chosen No. 3 overall by the Arizona Cardinals,plays running back.
The modern NFL doesn't value RBs the way it used to. They don't get big contracts in free agency. They are often discarded and regarded as replaceable.
That doesn't stop transcendent talents from being taken early. Ashton Jeanty went No. 6 overall to the Las Vegas Raiders just last year.
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It's tricky, though. All year long, the NFL acts as if running backs don't have value. And then when the draft rolls around, a team targets one like Love in the top-five.
Offenses have moved away from running the ball, although at least Love doesn't have a problem there -- he's fantastic in the passing game, too.
A different way to think about it is this: If there was no draft and every player coming out of college was available as a free agent, how much would Love be paid? And where would that rank among the class?
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Quarterbacks, wide receivers, cornerbacks, pass rushers and offensive tackles would all get more money per year than Love.
In this situation, rookie contracts are on a scale. Love will make what his draft spot says he'll make. But it's the same amount that an edge rusher chosen in the same spot would make.
On the one hand, it's valuable to have a strong running back on a rookie contract. On the other hand, if your team is unlikely to pay him a second contract, is it a shorter-term investment at a weaker position to begin with?
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This is nothing against Love. Odds are, he'll be a high-end NFL player.
Valuation of RBs makes this a tough one, though. Love will have to reach his ceiling to have been worth taking him this high, and that's just the way it works these days for running backs.
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