Cardinals free agency news silences Jeremiyah Love draft rumors
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Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love.
The Arizona Cardinals finalized a notable bit of running back news on March 8, just before the start of NFL free agency, and it likely takes them out of the mix for Notre Dame star Jeremiyah Love in the 2026 NFL Draft.
“The Cardinals and two-time Pro Bowl RB James Conner have agreed to a revised contract to keep him in Arizona for 2026, sources say,” NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero reported on X.
Tom Pelissero
The Cardinals and two-time Pro Bowl RB James Conner have agreed to a revised contract to keep him in Arizona for 2026, sources say.
Conner played just three games last season because an ankle injury. But he’ll be back at age 31.
He reminded followers that “Conner played just three games last season because of an ankle injury. But he’ll be back at age 31.”
Granted, Love was never the most likely target of the Cardinals at No. 3 overall, but recent draft rumors implied that the unexpected marriage was possible.
After the NFL Combine, Love’s draft stock surged back into the top five, according to most assessments. And with a new run-heavy head coach taking over in Mike LaFleur, the theory was that adding Love could help stabilize things in year one.
Having said that, the Conner deal certainly seems to quiet those rumors.
Arizona still has high hopes for 2024 third-rounder Trey Benson, despite last year’s unfortunate injury. Benson plus Conner makes for a pretty solid RB tandem on paper, especially if the Cardinals add a third back in free agency or the later rounds of the draft (Michael Carter and Emari Demercado are both free agents).
Needless to say, it makes much more sense for Arizona to use its top pick on one of the roster’s other various needs. Love is most likely a luxury the Cardinals cannot afford.
James Conner Will Look to Bounce Back After Injury-Lost Season
Cardinals' James Conner news hits just before NFL free agency
GettyThe Arizona Cardinals are retaining running back James Conner for the 2026 season.
Conner suffered a foot injury early in the 2025 season, and he was immediately ruled out for the remaining months after undergoing surgery in September.
After two back-to-back 1,000-yard campaigns in 2023 and 2024 — the first of his career — it was a really disappointing turn of events. To make matters worse, Benson suffered a knee injury and barely played in relief of Conner.
The veteran RB is a grinder and a dual threat who has often been a fan favorite throughout his NFL tenure.
He first burst onto the scene in Pittsburgh with starter Le’Veon Bell choosing to sit out a year due to stalls in contract negotiations. Then, before long, it became clear that Conner was a very capable RB1 in his own right.
He eventually received that opportunity in Arizona, earning a $21 million extension in 2022. Later, the Cardinals tacked on another two years and $19 million to his deal, keeping him on the books through 2026.
Conner was a clear cut candidate heading into the 2026 offseason, especially after his injury. Instead, Arizona has elected to roll with its veteran RB for at least one more season, likely convincing him to agree to some sort of pay cut in the process.
Cardinals, NFL Communities React to James Conner & Jeremiyah Love News Before Free Agency
Most Cardinals and NFL fans connected the dots after the Conner news.
“The Jeremiyah Love dream aside, I’m glad the Cardinals avoided these free agent RB prices,” Arizona sports host Johnny Venerable commented on X. “James Conner is an all-timer. Here’s hoping for a rebound.”
A contingent of supporters agreed, as one fan wrote: “Love the Cardinals bringing back James Conner. Such a tough dude.”
“Bringing James Conner back should not preclude the Cardinals from addressing the RB position in the draft,” Cardinals Wire writer Chuck Harris weighed in. Before acknowledging: “It does, however, signal they likely won’t be doing so in the 1st round.”
Finally, among other reactions, Cardinals insider Kyle Odegard replied: “Interested to see how much of a pay-cut James Conner took. Good veteran leader and still holds value as a big back, but I’d be hesitant to pay more than $3-4M to a 31-year-old RB coming off a major injury.”