Jeremiyah Love is considered one of the biggest offensive talents in this draft. Precisely because he is a running back, the Notre Dame star could still end up slipping lower than his class would suggest.

Jeremiyah Love is without question one of the most intriguing players in this year’s NFL Draft.

The Notre Dame running back is seen by many observers as an exceptional athlete. NFL insider Daniel Jeremiah recently ranked him second in his top 50 rankings.

A NFL coach recently told ESPN: “Jadarian Price is the best pure runner in the draft, but Love is the best pure player in the draft.”

And yet it’s quite possible that Love will have to wait longer on draft night than some other top talents.

And that’s not because of his ability. It’s because of his position.

Arizona Cardinals: The third pick for Love would be a risk

Although Love is described as a versatile playmaker with top-5 upside, the running back position often loses out to quarterbacks, pass rushers, offensive tackles or cornerbacks in modern NFL thinking.

Many now rate the value of individual running backs lower. This could have a decisive influence on Love’s draft range.

A look at the rookie contracts shows how strongly this economic consideration now plays a role. Love would receive a four-year contract worth 50.5 million dollars if the Arizona Cardinals were to pick him at number three. Fully guaranteed. That would also be the record deal for his position.

And even if the Cardinals flirt with Love at that position, it would be questionable from an economic standpoint, to say the least. That’s where the dilemma for franchises begins.

The dilemma with the RB position

Love may be one of the best players of the year. But a team in the top 5 doesn’t just have to ask itself how good the player is. It also has to ask itself if it is willing to invest a premium pick and a premium rookie contract in a position that is often considered easier to replace league-wide than quarterback, left tackle or edge rusher.

The fact that running backs are paid significantly less than quarterbacks, even at the veteran level, further underscores this line of thinking. While the biggest quarterback cap hits in 2026 are well over $40 million, the market for running backs is traditionally in a completely different ballpark.

This means Love can be an elite prospect and still fall lower at the same time. This logic is nothing new in the draft. Time and time again, players with top talent slip a little further down the board due to positional value, contract structure and team-building philosophy.

In Love’s case, this exact scenario seems realistic. His profile speaks for the absolute top. The mechanics of the draft suggest that some teams might hesitate at the very early positions.

Written by Max