NEW ORLEANS — The 2026 NFL Draft board just got hit by a backfield earthquake. After the New Orleans Saints and Kansas City Chiefs aggressively targeted veteran running backs in free agency last week, the draft’s most explosive playmaker, Jeremiyah Love, sees his landing spots vanishing. Our latest simulation reveals a dramatic shift: the Notre Dame superstar might no longer be a lock for the top 10.
New Orleans didn’t just add a runner; they reset their timeline. The Saints inked Travis Etienne Jr. to a four-year, $47 million deal, signaling a massive commitment to a proven veteran over a rookie project. Across the league, the Kansas City Chiefs made a similar splash, securing their own big-ticket veteran to stabilize a backfield that struggled for consistency during the 2025 campaign.
These moves leave Jeremiyah Love in a precarious position. Love dominated the 2025 college season, racking up 1,372 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns for the Fighting Irish. He averaged a staggering 6.9 yards per carry and proved he could catch, adding 280 yards through the air. On paper, he is the perfect modern weapon. In reality, the teams picking at No. 8 and No. 9 just filled those holes with All-Pro caliber talent.
“We love the talent in this class, but when you have a chance to bring in a vet who has seen every blitz package in the league, you take it. Our window is now. We aren’t waiting for a rookie to learn how to pass protect.”
— Anonymous AFC Personnel Director
If the Saints pass on Love at No. 8 to grab an offensive lineman like Francis Mauigoa, and the Chiefs prioritize a bookend tackle like Kadyn Proctor at No. 9, Love could tumble toward the teens. The Cincinnati Bengals sit at No. 10, but their eyes remain fixed on the secondary after a season plagued by big plays.
This creates a dream scenario for a team like the Dallas Cowboys at No. 12 or the Baltimore Ravens at No. 14. For a player who was a Heisman finalist and a unanimous All-American, falling out of the top 10 isn’t a reflection of his tape—it’s a result of a veteran market that suddenly prioritized “win-now” over “draft-and-develop.” Expect the next few weeks of Pro Days to be high-stakes theatre as Love tries to convince a team in the top five that his ceiling is too high to ignore.
