Controversial 2026 NFL Draft fit for Jeremiyah Love could give the dynamic playmaker the inside track to OROY honors
There is one potential 2026 NFL Draft landing spot that could fully unlock the upside of former Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love.
Former Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love is considered to be arguably the best overall prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft class. We have constantly seen Love get mocked somewhere between the Tennessee Titans at No. 4 and the Washington Commanders at No. 7 overall. That appears to be the sweet spot for him coming off the board.
There also seems to be another interesting fit on the table. The former Fighting Irish legend is set to visit the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday, who hold the No. 10 overall selection in this draft. While that pick would be somewhat controversial, it is hard to ignore how fun his fit would be in that Cincinnati offense. That is a lot of firepower in one room.
It is very unlikely that Love lasts that long, but it would be interesting to see if the Bengals jumped at the opportunity if he was still somehow on the board. With the trio of quarterback Joe Burrow and wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins already in place, offense is far from the biggest need for the Bengals. They have plenty of firepower and playmakers to create some big plays.
While defense would be the most likely outcome, the prospects of Love is pretty tantalizing, especially for fantasy football owners. Thinking of the opportunities that will be there while opposing defenses have their attention on Chase and Higgns would offer a ton of open grass. Hello, Offensive Rookie of the Year Award.
Love’s fit with the Bengals
A to Z Sports Bengals writer John Sheeran was kind enough to join me for further insight into Love’s fit with the team. Here is what he had to say.
“From a pure football perspective, Love would be an amazing fit with the Bengals,” Sheeran said. “He is the king of capitalizing on light boxes, and he’d see plenty of them in an offense that already features an elite quarterback and wide receiver tandem. The justification for making him the No. 10 pick revolves around the offensive line finally being in stable condition at all five spots. Love would have an easier time succeeding in Cincy compared to other, more likely landing spots atop the first round.”
Love’s career background
Love is considered to be a consensus four-star player by each of the major recruiting platforms coming out in the 2023 class. The former St. Louis (Mo.) Christian Brothers College star finished ranked as the No. 79 overall player, the No. 5 running back, and the No. 2 player from the state of Missouri in the 2023 recruiting class according to the 247 Sports Composite ranking.
Notre Dame won out over a long list of impressive options that included Georgia, Alabama, Michigan, Oregon, LSU, Texas A&M, Tennessee, Penn State, USC, Indiana, Miami, Nebraska, Auburn, Utah, Vanderbilt, Washington, Missouri, Louisville, Kentucky, Iowa, Arkansas, Iowa State, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Minnesota, Boston College, Purdue, Syracuse, Stanford, and Kansas, among others.
After serving as the main backup to Audric Estime as a freshman in 2023, Love proceeded to put together one of the best two-year stretches of any running back in Notre Dame history. Love ended his three-year career with 2,882 yards and 36 touchdowns, while averaging an impressive 6.7 yards per carry. The St. Louis native also hauled in 63 receptions for 594 yards and six more scores as a receiver. After Love’s historic campaign with the Fighting Irish in 2025, he finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting. Love opted to declare for the 2026 NFL Draft with one year of eligibility remaining.
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