Jeremiyah Love
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The Washington Commanders received a strong warning about running back Jeremiyah Love ahead of the 2026 NFL draft.
He’s a popular choice for the Washington Commanders and the seventh-overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft, but the team has received a strong warning about investing a first-round choice in Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love.
The warning comes from The Team 980’s Kevin Sheehan. He pointed out “there is some part of Jeremiyah Love’s success that you go back and you say, ‘yeah, it was kind of gaping holes against some pretty bad defensive teams, and when they played some really good defensive teams, it wasn’t necessarily the same.'”
Sheehan continued, “Now, if you wanna go back to 2024 and talk about those playoff games, he played some very good teams and the results were very average and less than average. You know, against Ohio State in that national championship game, four carries, three yards, two catches, five yards. They completely shut him down. Penn State, 11 for 46 in the semi-finals. Georgia, in the first-round win, six carries, 19 yards. Look at what Jeremiyah Love did against really good defenses in college. It’s not overwhelmingly positive. A lot of the yards and a lot of the highlights come against bad defensive college teams. It’s just true.”
The Team 980
Kevin points out Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love’s stats against elite defenses aren’t that eye-popping.
Those words form one of the toughest takes on the consensus best running back in this rookie class. A versatile and dynamic playmaker many believe the Commanders won’t be able to resist taking off the board if he’s still available.
If general manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn are swayed by the mediocre stats Sheehan referenced, there are still arguments in favor of taking Love.
Commanders Can Look Beyond the Numbers for Jeremiyah Love
Pairing Love’s generational talents alongside star quarterback Jayden Daniels would give the Commanders an irresistible double act. The possibilities of this one-two punch out of the backfield are enough for the Commanders to make concessions for some of Love’s modest outings against top-tier collegiate defenses.
Getting started with the understanding approach is as easy as acknowledging Love faltered in big games because he was often the sole target of top defenses. It’s also true Love couldn’t control who his opponents were, he could only beat what was in front of him, a more empathetic perspective on all those “pretty bad defensive teams” he dominated.
Sheehan’s reference to Love getting to run through some “gaping holes” can also be argued the other way. It’s a chicken and egg debate rendered large on the gridiron.
Does a running back become great because of his offensive line? Or does a great running back make any offensive line better?
Those are questions the Commanders must answer while they ponder using prime draft capital to acquire Love. It’s a move endorsed by ESPN’s Adam Schefter, who told The Pat McAfee Show on Monday, March 23, “Today, as we sit here today, my guess would be I don’t see him going to Tennessee. I don’t see him going to the Giants at No. 5, although that would be an interesting spot and I think he’d have a lot of support there. To me, a place that makes sense, today, a month out, would be the Washington Commanders.”
Pat McAfee
“Jeremiyah Love is a top ten pick..
I don’t see him going to the Titans or the Giants right now..
A place that makes sense to me would be the Washington Commanders” ~ @AdamSchefter #PMSLive
Schefter’s view is shared by Mike Band of Next Gen Stats, who believes “Love fits exactly what Peters said he wants more of this offseason: ‘young, really fast, exciting, explosive talent.'”
It’s a compelling argument, but perhaps there’s a stronger reason against the Commanders picking Love than his struggles when he faced stellar teams. A reason focused on the veteran talent Peters added to the backfield during 2026 NFL free agency.
Adam Peters Has Formed New-Look Running Back Rotation
When Peters agreed a one-year contract with former Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Rachaad White, the Commanders got a dependable and flexible veteran. A patient and elusive runner with a nose for the end zone, as well as a useful receiver.
White’s experience playing next to Daniels at Arizona State also made the 27-year-old a smart signing. Putting White onto the same depth chart as Jacory Croskey-Merritt, last season’s late-round draft steal, gives new Commanders offensive coordinator David Blough an intriguing combination.
Blough will also get to work with returning utility back Jeremy McNichols, as well as ex-Cleveland Browns bruising runner Jerome Ford, who has a 1,132-total yard season on his CV.
Three credible veterans supporting a rising star like JCM makes it appear as though the Commanders are well-enough stocked at running back. That will only change if Peters and Quinn are impressed enough by Love’s athletic gifts to not risk passing on him.