If it was all about talent and we didn’t factor in need and positional value, Jeremiyah Love might be the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Love is viewed by many as the best player in this year’s class, regardless of position. It’s not hard to see why after what he put on tape at Notre Dame.
As a result, Love has been projected to be a top-five pick, with some estimates having him go as high as No. 3 to the Arizona Cardinals.
But there’s a potential financial problem with a top-five projection for Love.
As Nick Korte of Over The Cap points out, if Love were to go to the Arizona Cardinals with the No. 3 overall pick, he would crush the running back record for most guaranteed money.
“If Jeremiyah Love were to be drafted 3rd overall as (ESPN reporter) Dan Graziano suggests is possible, he’d utterly shatter the RB market for fully guaranteed money at about $53.87M,” Korte wrote.
“Saquon Barkley currently leads at $36M, w/2nd at $35.6M being… Ashton Jeanty,” Korte concluded.
Love could even break the record if he’s drafted as late as No. 7, a pick owned by the running back-needy Washington Commanders.
To show you just how much rookie salaries have ballooned over the years, Barkley, who was the No. 2 overall pick in 2018, had a rookie contract with $31.1 million guaranteed.
Ashton Jeanty was the No. 6 overall pick to the Las Vegas Raiders in 2025. His contract is worth a total value of $35.8 million (all guaranteed), which ranks ninth in the NFL.
Will money impact Jeremiyah Love’s draft spot?
Nov 22, 2025; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Jeremiyah Love (4) runs the ball against the Syracuse Orange during the first half at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael Caterina-Imagn Images
Right now, the overwhelming belief is that Love won’t make it past the New York Giants at No. 5 in the 2026 NFL Draft.
But we would not lock that in, no matter how many rumors there are floating around saying that.
While the position has rebounded in recent years, there has still been a devaluing of running backs overall.
Teams at the top of the draft are there because they are lacking talent, and usually at key positions.
Those teams will have to weigh if they want to spend that much on a running back at the risk of hindering their ability to improve more crucial positions.
We’ll find out how much of an impact money will have on Love’s draft spot on Thursday night.