The Cleveland Browns are once again being linked to one of the most electric offensive prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft. Even though running back does not appear to be an urgent need on paper, Notre Dame star Jeremiyah Love continues to surface as a possible option for Cleveland near the top of the board.
That possibility has created a split between pure talent evaluation and roster-building logic. The Browns clearly have bigger holes elsewhere, but Love may be good enough to force a serious internal debate if he is still available. And one veteran Browns analyst believes the franchise could at least justify the pick.
Browns Could Still Consider Jeremiyah Love in NFL Draft
During a recent appearance on ESPN Cleveland, Browns analyst Tony Grossi was asked whether Cleveland could realistically draft Love if the Notre Dame playmaker slips to No. 6. Grossi acknowledged that the Browns would likely explore trade-down possibilities, but he also made it clear that Love’s talent could make him difficult to pass up.
“If Jeremiyah Love slips to six, surely the Browns will have to decide whether to take him or trade the pick,” Gross said. “It depends on what they got in the trade, that would equal or surpass the value of just taking him. I think there’s a case to make to take him, it’s just that it’s not a luxury, if they were a really good team and didn’t have obvious holes elsewhere, yeah, you’d take him, and you could always trade one of the other ones.”
That comment indeed reflects the central dilemma facing Cleveland, as Love is not simply another productive college running back — he is viewed by many as one of the premier overall talents in this class.
On the PFSN Consensus Big Board, Love carries a grade of 90.37 and ranks No. 5 overall prospect, and is expected to hear his name get called quite early in the draft.
He also offers a dynamic profile that goes beyond standard backfield production. Love’s blend of speed, explosiveness, and receiving ability gives him the kind of all-purpose upside that could immediately help a Browns offense searching for more playmakers.
The complication, of course, is that Cleveland already invested heavily in the position last year with Quinshon Judkins, while also adding Dylan Sampson to the mix.
Judkins’ rookie season was not dominant, however, as he averaged just 3.6 yards per carry and failed to reach 3.0 yards per attempt in five games, including each of his final three appearances before suffering a dislocated right ankle and fractured fibula. But that was largely due to the Browns’ offensive line, which ranked last on PFSN’s Team OL Impact Metric.
Love’s individual case remains strong, regardless of what the numbers show from his College production. Despite his prolific season, Love finished the year as the fourth-highest ranked running back in college football according to PFSN’s CFB RB Impact Metric, with an impact score of 92.4. He also scored 21 total touchdowns in 2025, underlining how dangerous he can be in multiple offensive roles.
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Still, Cleveland’s broader offensive needs cannot be ignored. The Browns lacked explosiveness in both the passing game and offensive structure last season, and they remain thin at wide receiver and along the offensive line. That means drafting Love would be less about filling a direct need and more about betting on elite talent over positional value.
If Cleveland truly believes Love is a game-breaking weapon, there is a real case to make for taking him. But if the Browns want to build a more balanced, sustainable offense, this decision could come down to whether they prioritize immediate roster repair or rare offensive upside.
