Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love is viewed by many as the premier prospect in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft, but where he lands may have been impacted dramatically by the first day of NFL free agency.
When the Kansas City Chiefs committed $45 million over the next three years to Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker, and the New Orleans Saints inked Travis Etienne to a four-year contract worth upwards of $52 million, two of Love’s potential landing spots in the draft shored up their running back needs long before they even went on the clock in the draft.
Where Jeremiyah Love might land in the 2026 NFL Draft
Kansas City Chiefs, Jeremiyah Love
Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love (4) runs with the ball during the first half of a NCAA football game against Navy at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025, in South Bend.
Based on what several teams did in the first day of the NFL’s legal tampering period, and more importantly, what some others didn’t, there’s a chance that Love might actually go higher than some previously expected.
ESPN NFL Analyst Field Yates released his latest mock draft, linking the Washington Commanders at No. 7 overall as a most likely destination for Love.
“The Commanders landed one of the best free agent pass rushers in Odafe Oweh,” Yates writes, of the Commanders’ early free agency moves. “Which checks the box for their most pressing need and enables general manager Adam Peters to take my No. 2 prospect in this class. We can debate the merits of taking a running back early in perpetuity, but Love is a dynamic, dual-threat player who would instantly supercharge what was a middle-of-road backfield last season. Teaming up Love with Jayden Daniels could be a lot of fun.”
Love has the chance to be both a substantial upgrade over former Commanders running back Austin Ekeler, who suffered a season-ending injury in Week 2 of the 2025 campaign, as well as an explosive complement alongside Jacory Croskey-Merritt, as the kind of duo capable of elevating Jayden Daniels and the rest of an offense that was besieged by injuries last season.
2026 NFL Draft, Jeremiyah Love
Sep 20, 2025; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Jeremiyah Love (4) runs the ball against the Purdue Boilermakers in the second half at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael Caterina-Imagn Images