There has been a renewed importance placed on the position of running back in the NFL in recent years, and it couldn’t have come at a better time for Jeremiyah Love. It’s no longer considered crazy to use a top 10 draft pick on a running back, and the Notre Dame star now appears to be a lock to go that high when the 2026 NFL draft begins on April 23.
There was a four-year stretch, from 2019 through 2022, when not a single running back was drafted higher than 24th overall. Things changed in 2023, when the Atlanta Falcons drafted Bijan Robinson eighth overall. Shortly after that pick, the Detroit Lions surprised many when they selected Jahmyr Gibbs with the 12th overall pick. Robinson and Gibbs have since established themselves as elite offensive weapons. The Las Vegas Raiders took Ashton Jeanty with the sixth overall pick last year, and they hope to see similar results as he gets set for his second season.
Love would be a good fit for several teams picking in the top 10. The 6-foot, 214-pounder has an ideal combination of speed and strength. Like Robinson and Gibbs, he can be an explosive threat both as a runner and receiver.
Love was already an elite draft prospect before the NFL Combine, but it was in Indianapolis where he put the NFL world on notice. Teams with very high picks that have been linked to Love include the Tennessee Titans (No. 4 pick), New York Giants (No. 5) and Washington Commanders (No. 7). In his latest mock draft, Luke Easterling has the Titans taking Love.
And if teams picking that high might draft Love, then it stands to reason other teams might covet him enough to invest draft capital and trade up for him.
5 teams that should trade up for Jeremiyah Love
Dallas Cowboys
With two first-round picks — their own at No. 12 and No. 20 from the Micah Parsons trade with the Green Bay Packers — the Cowboys have the capital to make this happen. They re-signed Javonte Williams, who had a nice year in 2025 (1,201 rushing yards, 11 touchdowns), but Williams has injury history and Love would make this offense very dangerous.
If Love is still available with the sixth overall pick, it might give Dallas even more urgency to acquire him. The Washington Commanders have the seventh pick, and pairing Love with quarterback Jayden Daniels would be very enticing. The Cowboys would much prefer to have Love on their team than have to face him twice a year.
2026 NFL DRAFT RANKINGS
QB | RB | WR | TE | OT | Interior OL | Edge | Interior DL | LB | CB | S
Washington Commanders
If the Cowboys and the Giants can both scare Washington into thinking they want Love, then the Commanders might look to move up a few spots from their No. 7 pick to make sure they get him. The problem for the Commanders is that they don’t have second- or fourth-round picks this year because of the Laremy Tunsil trade. Can they offer their 2027 first-round pick to move up?
Cleveland Browns
Quinshon Judkins rushed for 827 yards and seven touchdowns as a rookie last season, adding 27 receptions for 171 yards. New head coach Todd Monken might be fine with Judkins as his RB1, but the Browns do have the capital to go after Love if they want. Many insiders are predicting the Titans draft Love at No. 4. With the sixth overall pick and the 24th overall pick, the Browns can easily trade up with the Arizona Cardinals to get Love at No. 3.
Pittsburgh Steelers
This won’t happen, but the Steelers should think about it. Yes, they signed Rico Dowdle to pair with Jaylen Warren, but that’s not exactly a dynamic duo. The Steelers have a total of 12 draft picks this year, including seven in the first four rounds — so it’s possible they can build a package to trade up without giving away their 2027 first-round pick. If they can get one more year out of Aaron Rodgers, the 42-year-old would benefit immensely from having Love in the backfield. Then they’d still have the ’27 first-rounder to draft Rodgers’ replacement from what is expected to be a deep QB class. And Love would be there to take the pressure off the rookie.
Seattle Seahawks
With the final pick of the first round as their best draft capital, Seattle would have to put together a boatload of current and future picks to move up — but it would be well worth it. When the 2026 season begins, Zach Charbonnet will still be recovering from an ACL tear suffered in the playoffs, so the hole created by the free-agent loss of Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III is not insignificant. An offense featuring Love and wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba would be fun to watch.
