The Arizona Cardinals are a team that needs a lot of help in many different positions, but now they have to worry about one less position after making their first pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. The Cardinals chose to resolve their run game issue, a stat they ranked last in the NFL last season, by drafting star running back Jeremiyah Love from Notre Dame.
This is the second draft in a row where a running back has been taken in the Top 10 after Ashton Jeanty was taken by the Las Vegas Raiders with the No. 6 pick in 2025. Now, as a top-three pick, Love is going to get a big payday, and it is one that no other running back in history has ever been given.
Jeremiyah Love's rookie contract is fit for the No. 3 pick in the NFL Draft
As reported by NFL writer Ari Meriov, Love is set to receive a record-breaking contract when it comes to running backs. The Cardinals will give Love a four-year, $50.5 million fully guaranteed rookie deal, making it the most guaranteed money a running back has ever been given in NFL history.
New #Cardinals RB Jeremiyah Love will make $50.5M fully guaranteed on his rookie contract, the most fully guaranteed money ever given to a RB in NFL history. https://t.co/1Jxh5ceTrW
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) April 24, 2026
Now, Love is extremely talented, but he isn't being given this money simply because of his talent. This is the type of money the No. 3 overall pick typically gets, but it is not like Love's talent isn't a factor here at all. It is Love's talent that got him selected this high in the draft, instead of the Cardinals looking to fix another problem on their roster.
While the guaranteed money is more about the high pick, it is still historic that Love is making this kind of money at this position. While there have been running backs taken higher in the draft, it hasn't been recently with the kind of money that players now make in the NFL.
Love will have a lot of hype to live up to in Arizona, especially with this kind of contract, but Notre Dame fans know that if there is one player who is up for the challenge, it is Love.
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