When the Arizona Cardinals selected running back Jeremiyah Love with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the hype train immediately left the station. Many fans and analysts quickly pegged him as the early frontrunner for Offensive Rookie of the Year—and for good reason. Running backs typically transition to the pro game faster than quarterbacks or wide receivers, and Love is no ordinary prospect.

But before you lock in that Rookie of the Year bet, NFL insider Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated is urging some caution. Here’s the thing: Love isn't walking into an empty backfield. He's joining a Cardinals roster that already features two-time Pro Bowler James Conner and Tyler Allgeier, who rushed for over 1,000 yards as a rookie in 2022 and just inked a $12.5 million deal with Arizona this offseason.

Sure, Love is expected to eventually take over as the starter. But with Conner and Allgeier still very much in the mix, his workload might not be as heavy as some expect. Breer put it bluntly: "The Cardinals figure to build their offense around him... But I’d temper that just a bit in that I’d bet Arizona will try not to overuse him."

That shared backfield could mean Love's rookie stats take a hit—at least compared to the monster numbers some are projecting. Unless the Cardinals make a surprise move and trade or cut Conner or Allgeier (unlikely, given Allgeier's fresh contract), Love will have to earn his carries. It might be a year or two before he fully becomes the superstar many envision.

For now, Love remains an exciting talent with a bright future. But if you're shopping for that "Offensive Rookie of the Year" jersey, you might want to wait a season before pulling the trigger.