While it's a few weeks away, the 3026 NFL Draft is likely a time for the Cincinnati Bengals to go out and land a top-tier defensive player or two.
After the massive struggles of the defense in 2025, which led to multiple heartbreaking losses, the Bengals have to improve their defense. That's why a defender at No. 10 overall wouldn't be a surprise.
However, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the Bengals are hosting an 18-touchdown running back on Notre Dame's Jeremiyah Love on a top-30 visit, opening the door for a running back with the Bengals' top-10 pick.
Bengals host Love on pre-draft visit for possible intriguing 10th overall pick
"Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love, who has already visited with the #Titans (4th) and #Giants (5th), heads to a visit with the #Bengals later today, sources say. Cincy picks 10th," Rapoport reports.
Love is fully expected to go somewhere in the first round, and very likely to go inside the top-10 picks of the draft. The only questions are who takes him and how high he goes.
While the Arizona Cardinals could, in theory, draft him, he's much more likely to be taken by the Tennessee Titans with the fourth pick, the New York Giants with the fifth pick, or the Washington Commanders with the seventh pick.
Cincinnati hasn't been linked to Love as a realistic option all offseason, and this report now opens the door to a possibility most didn't consider.
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Sure, adding Love to play for Joe Burrow alongside Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins would be incredibly fun, but they already have Chase Brown, a good young running back.
Trading him away, or fielding two running backs with Brown and Love, wouldn't make much sense. Love is a great player, but the Bengals don't need him like they need defense.
Whether it's a cornerback, safety, linebacker, defensive tackle, or an edge rusher, the Bengals need all of the help that they can get this offseason.
Love, for the most part, hasn't been on the Bengals' radar. But now, he's someone that fans cannot ignore as a possibility with the 10th pick, as the Bengals are hosting the Notre Dame running back for a visit, showing serious interest in the star RB.
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