With the Super Bowl in the books, all eyes now turn to the 2026 NFL Draft, where players will get a chance to see their pro football dreams come true. Former Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love has seen his draft stock fall and drop over the years, but it seems like he picked the right time to head to the pros.
Love is foregoing his final season with the Irish to see his NFL dream come true, and while some feel he could have taken another year to get better, this is truly the best time for him to head to the draft. Love is graded as the top running back in this year's class and is also projected to go in the Top 10.
If Love is taken in the top 10, it would be the second year in a row a running back was taken that high, something not typical in the NFL Draft. NFL Draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. is pretty high on Love, even putting him in the Top 10 himself, and he feels he could be the answer the Kansas City Chiefs are looking for.
Should the Chiefs look to grab RB Jeremiyah Love at No. 9 in the first round of the NFL draft? 🤔 @nfldraftscout and @MelKiperESPN debate if that's the best move for KC on the NFL Draft Daily Show. pic.twitter.com/FqdZKx5MA7
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) February 11, 2026
The Chiefs struggled this season, falling from grace so far that they didn't even make the playoffs for the first time in the Patrick Mahomes era. Mahomes will be coming back from an ACL tear in the 2026 season, and while the defense certainly needs work, the NFL star needs weapons offensively as well.
Both Isaiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt are still in the building, but it is clear the Chiefs need a star at the running back position. Hunt is a fantastic third-down back, but Pacheco hasn't been the same since his leg injury in 2024. Love would be a great player to stick in that running back role because he can be versatile.
Love can not only be in the backfile dready to break off on a big run, but he can also be put in the slot position and be a target for Mahomes in the field. The Chiefs are not rebuilding; they missed the playoffs one season, and they plan to be back to their typical glory next year.
With the Chiefs, Love can be a truly versatile player, and while the defense needs a lot of work this offseason, Mahomes needs weapons on the field, and Love can provide exactly that.