The Cleveland Browns are once again entering a draft cycle with more questions than answers on offense. The quarterback situation remains unresolved, the passing game still lacks proven explosiveness, and the front office is under pressure to find immediate difference-makers.
That is why the projection around Notre Dame star Jeremiyah Love has become quite interesting. On paper, running back may not look like Cleveland’s biggest need. But when the player in question is viewed by many as one of the most dynamic talents in the entire class, the conversation becomes much harder to dismiss.
Browns Urged Not To Overthink Jeremiyah Love’s Value At No. 6
During a recent discussion about Cleveland’s draft outlook, NFL Analyst Daryl Ruiter argued that the Browns should not let positional need cloud their judgment if Love is still on the board. His point was that elite talent should not be passed over too easily, especially when Cleveland has enough picks to address other holes later.
“I’m not a big fan of passing on game-changing talent just to fill needs,” Ruiter said. “And they’ve got 5 of the top 110 picks in this draft. The WR group is thought to be pretty good, especially at the top. Not a lot of separation between the number one WR and maybe the number 10 WR.”
“So, maybe you can wait until the 24th pick to take that particular player,” He added. “But, if they went Jeremiyah Love, it would be very hard for me to really go after him and rail against that selection because he is such a good player.”
Ruiter also emphasized that Love’s value goes beyond a traditional handoff. In his view, the Notre Dame playmaker could give Cleveland a movable offensive weapon while also easing the burden on an unstable quarterback room.
“He’s a guy you can play in the slot, he’s not just a pure RB,” Ruiter added. “You can move him around the field quite a bit, and also, he could help you cover up some of the warts you have at the QB position right now, because let’s be honest about it, those problems are not getting solved this year… So, if you can bring in a player that can help not just be a game changer but also be a little bit of a safety valve i do think that kinda makes sense.”
“I’m not a big fan of passing on game changing talent just to fill needs. They have 5 of the top 100 picks. Maybe you can wait until the 24th pick to take (WR). If they went Jerimiyah Love it would be very hard for me to go after them.”
📞@RuiterWrongFAN on the possibility of… pic.twitter.com/AyLAFcGgp0
— 92.3 The Fan (@923TheFan) April 6, 2026
The case for Love becomes stronger when looking at both his talent profile and Cleveland’s offensive reality. 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 finished as the fourth-highest ranked running back in college football in PFSN’s CFB RB Impact Metric with a 92.4 score, while scoring 21 total touchdowns in 2025.
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That kind of versatility matters for a Browns offense that badly needs juice. Cleveland finished 5-12 last season, and PFSN’s Offense Impact (OFFi) Metric, the Browns posted a 52.0 OFFi score, which ranked dead last in the league at No. 32. The Browns also received an F offensive grade and ranked No. 830 overall historically in the metric, underlining just how ineffective the unit was.
Put simply, this was one of the league’s least productive offenses, lacking both consistency and explosive playmaking. That is why Love’s fit becomes more compelling than it first appears.
Even after Quinshon Judkins showed his poise on the field, Cleveland still struggled to generate chunk plays, and the QB situation remains shaky with Deshaun Watson’s decline and Shedeur Sanders still developing.
Love would not solve every problem, but he could instantly give the Browns a player capable of changing games from the backfield, slot, or open field. And that may be the key part of this entire debate.
