There is buzz that Arizona could draft a surprising player with the third overall pick. That’s the word from Todd McShay, who recently floated the possibility of the Cardinals drafting Jeremiyah Love. If Arizona follows through, it would mark the highest a running back has been selected since Saquon Barkley went second overall in 2018.
Taking Jeremiyah Love at No. 3 Would Be a Bold Pick for the Cardinals
Love is a special prospect as the Doak Walker Award winner rushed for 2,882 yards and 36 touchdowns across three seasons at Notre Dame while adding 63 catches for 594 yards. His 4.36 40-yard dash at the combine matched Jahmyr Gibbs, and Fox Sports’ Bucky Brooks views him as “the highest-rated running back” that he has scouted since Reggie Bush.
On the PFSN’s Big Board, Love is ranked as the fourth-best prospect in this year’s draft. However, none of that changes the calculus of using premium draft capital on a position with a short shelf life.
According to McShay, a strong voice within the Cardinals’ organization is advocating for the franchise to select Love with the third overall pick.
𝗥𝗨𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗦: Someone who “has a say” in the Cardinals’ organization has been pushing very hard for the team to consider selecting RB Jeremiyah Love at #3 overall, per @McShay13 pic.twitter.com/JarnsNj0o1
— JPA (@jasrifootball) April 3, 2026
The Cardinals released Kyler Murray this offseason and are entering 2026 with Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew as their quarterbacks. New head coach Mike LaFleur has a roster with holes at cornerback, offensive line, and edge rusher. Using the third pick on a running back when the organization lacks a long-term answer at the game’s most important position would be a difficult sell to a fan base still processing the Murray era.
Arizona’s quarterback situation complicates things further because the 2026 class lacks elite options beyond Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, whom the Raiders will almost certainly select first overall.
Ty Simpson has been linked to the Cardinals as a developmental option, but most evaluators don’t view him as a top-five talent. LaFleur may be content to bridge 2026 with veterans and target the deeper 2027 quarterback class.
The draft buzz around Love might signal something else entirely: Arizona’s willingness to move back. If the Cardinals can find a trade partner at No. 4, 5, or 6, they could accumulate additional draft capital while still landing their preferred running back. Teams like the Titans at No. 4 or the Giants at No. 5 might be interested in moving up for a quarterback or edge rusher.
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Love figures to be available in the 5-7 range, given the league’s historical reluctance to take backs early. Trading down would allow Arizona to add a second first-rounder or multiple Day 2 picks while still getting their guy.
For a team in clear rebuild mode, that approach makes far more sense than staying put and using premium capital on a running back when the roster needs reinforcements everywhere.
