The Arizona Cardinals decided to stay at No. 3 overall and made one of the most interesting selections of the 2026 NFL Draft by taking Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love.
The Cardinals were reportedly looking to trade back in this year’s draft to gain more capital and fill several pressing needs, but that obviously never happened. Instead, they selected the best player available in Love, even though running back was not viewed as a major need.
“Having a talent such as Love in the backfield could lead to offensive fireworks, if Arizona can both protect the quarterback — whomever it might be — and block for Love,” ESPN’s Josh Weinfuss said. “Arizona has a major need at right tackle, so addressing the offense from the outside in is a major risk for a general manager on the hot seat with a first-year head coach.”
Many projected the Cardinals to use the third overall pick on the offensive line. Instead, the backfield suddenly became far more crowded, and it is easy to see why recent free-agent addition Tyler Allgeier may not be thrilled.
Tyler Allgeier Named Major Draft Loser After Cardinals Draft
As of now, Arizona’s backfield includes Love, Allgeier, James Conner and Trey Benson. With more than four months until the season begins, rosters can still change, but this is clearly a situation the Cardinals must sort out.
Much of that goes back to Allgeier, who came from the Atlanta Falcons after spending the last three years backing up Bijan Robinson. Allgeier signed a two-year, $12.25 million deal with Arizona, presumably believing he would have a chance to become the lead back.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter has now labeled Allgeier one of the biggest losers of the draft.
“My draft loser, if you will call him that, is the Arizona Cardinals running back Tyler Allgeier,” Schefter said. “Tyler Allgeier was in Atlanta and wanted a larger role and left Atlanta in free agency to go to Arizona, which paid him $7 million for the upcoming season. He thought he was going to be the lead back there … or at least get more work than he got in Atlanta.”
Schefter added that the Cardinals may not have tipped off Allgeier about the Love pick.
“The Cardinals coaches loved Jeremiyah Love. The Cardinals owner, we believe, loved Jeremiyah Love. This is an organization that needed a little bit of pizazz and they went ahead and took him, much to the surprise and disappointment of Tyler Allgeier.”
Allgeier has already shown he can handle a lead role in the NFL. As a rookie, he rushed for more than 1,000 yards on more than 200 carries. Those numbers dropped sharply after Robinson arrived in Atlanta. He’s also never fumbled in his four-year career.
Jeremiyah Love Pick Raises Stakes In Arizona
Love’s selection could end up being a defining move for general manager Monti Ossenfort. But it is also true that Arizona needed another star presence after moving on from Kyler Murray.
“It’s the person, it’s the player,” Ossenfort said, per Cardinals team reporter Dani Sureck. “[Love’s] an explosive player, been highly productive the last two years in both the run and the pass game. Really adds a multiple dimension to the offense. And a great person, about the right stuff. We’re just excited to get him here and add him to our offense.”
Love has the ability to make an immediate impact as a Day 1 starter. Again, that would likely come at the expense of Allgeier and others currently in the Cardinals’ running back room.
Adam Schefter Names Biggest ‘Draft Loser’ After Cardinals Pick Jeremiyah Love