Will Jeremiyah Love declare for the 2026 NFL Draft? The 2025 Heisman Trophy runner up and Doak Walker Award winner is expected to leave Notre Dame and enter the draft. If he does not, it will be a big win for the Fighting Irish and another year of waiting for NFL teams.
With all signs pointing to Love declaring for the draft, the outstanding running back will be a force in the NFL. With an upside in comparison to Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs, Love is a workhorse type back who can take it to the house whenever he touches the ball.
With a blend of vision, explosiveness and a dual-threat value of catching the ball, Love will bring excitement to any NFL team.
Jeremiyah Love is the definition of “vision and burst”
After a slow start to the season, Love helped turn the season around for Notre Dame by returning to the dominant player he was in 2024. In rushing for 1,372 yards and 18 touchdowns, Love more than established himself as the top running back prospect in the draft, he is also one of the top offensive playmakers in the 2026 NFL Draft. Summed up perfectly by Mel Kiper Jr. in his NFL draft big board rankings, Love will bring many dimensions to an NFL offense.
Kiper Jr writes:
“Love reminds me a lot of Reggie Bush. The 20-year-old has vision and burst between the tackles and to the outside, and he can break tackles with ease (60 forced missed tackles on the season). Once he gets into space, he can take it to the house with his breakaway speed too. But Love isn't only an outstanding runner. He also is a high-impact pass catcher. An NFL team will be able to flank him out wide and create a whole other dimension of the offense”
Also read: Top landing spots for Arizona State WR Jordyn Tyson in the 2026 NFL Draft
The Reggie Bush comparison is solid, but any team drafting him will hope he has a better career in the NFL. Bush had his moments but only rushed for over 1,000 yards twice in his career. The hope for a player with the blend of talent Love has been that he has the impact Christian McCaffrey had in the NFL. A player able to carry an offense in multiple ways.
Forecasted as a top 10-15 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, here are three teams in position to add Love to their offense.
3 NFL teams in position to land Jeremiyah Love
Minnesota Vikings:
The Vikings will have priories on defense in the 2026 NFL Draft, but if Jeremiyah Love is sitting there when it is time for them to select, the temptation of adding another weapon on offense will be too hard to resist. In building around second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy, the threat of Love in the backfield can be a catalyst for a Vikings’ offense that have the playmakers in place to be more potent than they have been in 2025. Add a versatile running back like Love and then use the rest of the draft and free agency to restock on the defensive side of the ball is in play for the Vikings this offseason.
Other first round options for the Vikings: Jermod McCoy (CB), Caleb Downs (S), Sonny Styles (LB)
Arizona Cardinals:
It has been a disappointing season for the Cardinals who now have a question mark at the quarterback position. With the possibility of the team moving on from Kyler Murray, QB could be a top target in the draft. If they stick with Murray, offensive line is a high priority, but like the Vikings, the idea of Jeremiyah Love in the offense will be intriguing. Not only can a player like Love help take the pressure off the QB, but he is also another potential target in the passing game. Most importantly, he would allow the Cardinals to more on from James Conner who suffered a season-ending foot injury in Week 3 of the NFL season.
Other first round options for the Cardinals: Dante Moore (QB), Makai Lemon (WR), Spencer Fano (T)
Washington Commanders:
The Commanders also took a step back in 2025 and are not set up with a high draft pick. With Jayden Daniels battling injuries throughout the season, but poised to return healthy in 2026, the Commanders adding a player like Love could have the Commanders right back in the mix of the NFC East. As a legitimate RB1, Love gives the Commanders a dual-threat option, one that offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury will love calling plays for.
Other first round options for the Commanders: Peter Woods (DE/EDGE), Arvell Reese (LB/EDGE), Jermod McCoy (CB)