The Cardinals' Case for RB Jeremiyah Love at #3
By Walter Mitchell
By now, as everyone here at Red Rain knows, I am enamored with ED Rueben "Red" Bain Jr.
But something keeps nagging at me --- the thought of the Cardinals taking Notre Dame's All-American RB Jeremiyah Love, if available at #3.
Yesterday, this Love rumor through Todd McShay appeared on social media:
Back in 2017, the number one player I was banging the table for was Stanford University's All-American RB Christian McCaffrey.
I spent that entire draft season pushing back on fans who kept insisting that "you don't take a RB in the first round."
My rebuttal was easy ---> McCaffrey is as good a slot WR as he is a RB. In him, you are getting two players in one.
Ever since Tom Brady was showing the football world how winning the middle of the football field in the running and passing games is apt to win teams a ton of games, I have been dialed in on playmakers who are world beaters over the middle ---just as I have been dialed in on coveting middle defenders (LBs, SSs and slot CBs) who can get offenses off the field and keep them out of the end zone.
On October 22, 2022, when the 49ers traded for Christian McCaffrey, they were 3-3 and soon to be 3-4 a week later after getting whomped 44-23 by the Chiefs.
After that, the addition of the uber-versatile McCaffrey helped to change everything. The 49ers reeled off 10 straight wins to finish the regular season at 13-4, winners of the NFC West.
In the playoffs they beat the Seahawks 41-23, then the Cowboys 19-12 before losing QB Brock Purdy to an elbow injury early in their 31-7 NFC Championship game loss to the Eagles.
One of the arguments I have always maintained about RBs and why great ones are worthy of being 1st round picks is --- they are the playmaker who get the most touches per game and per season. So then, why not get the best danged RB you can?
I know this may sound crazy to some of you, especially those who think Kyle Shanahan's offense is going to win its majority of games no matter who plays --- but check out this stat.
Since trading for Christian McCaffrey starting out 3-4 in 2022 ---the 49ers' records
* When McCaffrey plays: 35-13
* When McCafrrey is out: 5-9
The thing about McCaffrey is how impactful he is on both the 49ers running and passing games.
This is why the Cardinals drafting Jeremiyah Love could be a gold mine for the offense and the team.
In J-Love, the team would be acquiring a world-class RB and slot WR. And, get this, he's not only a tad more physically gifted than Christian McCaffrey, with Kenneth Walker III out of the division, Love could immediately become the most talented RB in the NFC West, from day one.
Pre-Draft Measurables:
Christian McCaffrey - 2017 - 5-11, 202, 30" arms, 9" hands, 4.48 40, 1.52 10-yard split,
- Production: 90; Athleticism: 86; Total Score: 95; NextGen Grade; 6.40
Jeremiyah Love - 2026 - 6-0, 212, 32" arms, 9 1/8" hands, 4.36 40, 1.55 10-yard split
- Production: 96; Athleticism: 90; Total Score: 96; NextGen Grade: 6.73
Jeremiyah Love Draft and Combine Prospect Profile | NFL.com
Overview
Three-phase running back capable of stressing defenses with big-play speed and untapped pass-catching value. Love shared carries but was the heartbeat of Notre Dame’s offense over the last two years. He runs with a fierce tempo and processes the front with adequate eyes to find entry points and burst through them. Urgency works in his favor, but he’ll occasionally miss open lanes when he gets too deep too quickly. Outstanding speed erases pursuit angles to the corner and helps him pull away from tacklers once he opens his gait. He’s live-legged with violent cuts in segmented bursts that can elude tacklers but slow his momentum. He’s not a pile-mover but he runs through contact and squeezes out extra yards as a committed finisher. He’s a talented route runner and pass catcher who can work from the slot and mismatch linebackers. Love is a three-down, scheme-independent player who would benefit from a complementary back to preserve his big-play ability.
Strengths
- Highly productive, with 2,497 yards rushing and 35 touchdowns in the last two seasons.
- Workhorse mentality but only saw 20 or more carries three times during career.
- Urgent but shortens his stride to improve control as a move-maker.
- Instant reacceleration helps him escape rallying defenders.
- Speed to outflank and corner as an outside runner.
- Rockets through interior entry points to stress missed run fits.
- State champion sprinter in high school.
- Runs with forward lean and is intentional as a run finisher.
- Ball carriage can be a little loose but he almost never fumbles.
- Can align in the slot and run routes like a receiver.
- Capable of hurting defenses as a three-level pass catcher.
- Protects with consistent readiness to square up and scrap with blitzers.
Weaknesses
- Slight indecisiveness can slow his departure.
- Probes to find the crease instead of setting one up.
- Cuts and transitions are choppy, sapping his momentum.
- Inconsistent spatial awareness as an inside runner.
- Doesn’t feature pile-moving lower-body power.
- Leaves feet and goes airborne too willingly.
Sources Tell Us
“It’s hard to extend drives, so you look for skill players who get you to the end zone with the least amount of plays. He’s that kind of player.” -- NFC personnel director
Drafting Love would decompress having to reach for a QB this year. We would need to grab a tackle in 2nd round but offense would be formidable . We would ahead in the arms race of the NFC West. It would also give fans a reason to turn on the TV on Sunday. Somebody must be banging the table for him. Wonder if its Sears? Could be some dissension in Camp Monti..
ReplyDeleteIf Bain is off the board @3, I wouldn't complain about drafting Love. He's pro-ready and looks like he'd be a solid producer for years to come. I wonder if Monti could get a dancing partner and trade back a few spots, still get Love and a second-round pick. Would that be too risky?
ReplyDeleteArvell Reese would be HARD to pass on though, if he does fall past the Jets at #2
DeleteI happen to know for a fact that Michael Bidwill is still kicking himself for passing on Adrian Peterson. Love would be our next draft's top QB's best friend. Connor is not a long term impact for us-if they draft Love, Benson moves into MOs draft dumpster fire of misses-Love would make this a lot more palatable unless MHJ winds up there too.
ReplyDeleteWalt, all your praise for McCaffrey comes for his time with the 49ers, meanwhile, they did not spend a 1st round pick on him, the Panthers spent a top 10 pick and dare I say they should have spent that pick on someone else. The Giants spent a first round pick on Barkley and he achieved nothing, yet once he moved to a competent organization, he won a Superbowl. If the Cardinals draft Love in the 1st, in four years he will leave and sign with the Chiefs and win Andy Reid his fourth or fifth Superbowl. Sucker football teams draft running backs at the top of the first round, winning organizations sign them four years later.
ReplyDeleteIt's always felt like people are sworn off of running backs early in the draft, but it feels like a misconception. For the RIGHT running back it makes a lot of sense to draft them high
ReplyDeleteEzekiel Elliott in 2015
Leonard Fournette and Christian McCaffery in 2017
Saquon Barkley in 2018 (note the Eagles paid top dollar for him in Free Agency)
Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs in 2023
Ashton Jeanty in 2025
There's also a reason why the highest paid RBs in the NFL (Henry, CMC, Barkley, Walker) all play for the best teams in the NFL (Ravens, 49ers, Eagles, Chiefs)
The RIGHT running back is worth the top pick. I don't know if Love is that player or not, but the process itself is good if he's the RIGHT running back
Saquon Barkley kind of prooves the point though. As good as he is, he didn't do much for the Giants W/L record while he was there. Putting him on a good team meant a SB win. The problem with drafting a RB high is if you're drafting that high it usually means your team isn't very good, so you won't typically be in a position to pound the rock. Even the best RB isn't worth that much if you're down 2 scores in the 4th quarter because you have no defense and your OL isn't good enough to give that RB any holes.
DeleteI wouldn't be mad with the Love pick, but I don't think he improves the team as much in 2026 as most of the other options. If the goal is to simply add the most talented player then there is a strong case for him though.
ReplyDelete