For the first time in the Patrick Mahomes era, the Kansas City Chiefs are in a truly unfamiliar position. With a 6-7 record, the team’s playoff chances are dwindling, forcing many fans to shift their focus from the postseason hunt to the upcoming NFL draft much earlier than usual.
As the team looks for answers, one of the most glaring needs is at the running back position, which has lacked the explosive element that once defined the offense.
Could Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love Solve Kansas City’s Rushing Problems?
In a recent mock draft from Pro Football Network, analyst Ayden Stroupe projects the Chiefs will address this weakness by selecting Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love. Interestingly, Stroupe has Love, a player many consider a potential top-ten talent, falling to Kansas City at the 14th pick. Stroupe had this to say about the possible selection:
“Kansas City adds arguably the most electric weapon in this draft class to their offense in Jeremiyah Lovem” wrote Stroupe. “His combination of acceleration, vision, and three-down versatility fits perfectly in a scheme built around creativity and space.”
“Love provides the type of explosive element that forces defenses to account for him on every snap,” Stroupe added. “He can contribute immediately as a runner and receiver. This is a high-impact selection for an offense that thrives on mismatches.”
Love would certainly be a significant addition to the Chiefs’ offense. During the 2025 season alone, he accounted for 1,372 rushing yards on 199 carries and 18 rushing touchdowns. He also showcased his versatility, adding 27 receptions for 280 yards and three touchdowns through the air. This production earned Love the fifth spot on PFSN’s college football running back impact metric with an impact score of 92.2 in 2025.
His stellar 2025 campaign was built upon a strong foundation. Throughout his other two seasons with the Fighting Irish, Love recorded 1,510 yards on 234 carries and scored 18 touchdowns on the ground, while also catching 36 passes for 314 yards and three touchdowns. Adding a player this explosive from the backfield would massively help the Chiefs’ attack.
In contrast, the current Kansas City offense has been inconsistent this season. According to PFSN’s running back impact metric, Kareem Hunt is ranked as the 18th running back in the league with an impact score of 78.1. Meanwhile, Isiah Pacheco is ranked as the 43rd-best back in the league with an impact score of 70.3.
Although Hunt’s impact score places him near the top half of the league, the offense still lacks an actual game-changing presence out of the backfield. Drafting a dynamic player like Love would provide that missing element.
If Kansas City can establish a more reliable ground game, it will take significant pressure off the passing attack. It could be a key factor in helping them return to Super Bowl contention in 2026.
