You’d have a tough time discovering anybody to dispute Notre Dame operating again Jeremiyah Love being one in every of the greatest prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft, which is why the Arizona Cardinals chosen him with the No. 3 total decide.
The No. 2 total participant on my board (trailing solely Ohio State security Caleb Downs), you possibly can have made a robust case that Love was the most gifted prospect on this 12 months’s whole draft class. The proven fact that he performed a place not usually valued by groups in the top-five vary did not cease the Cardinals from investing that form of capital to deliver him to Arizona.
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But is that this a workforce that has the supporting forged to permit Love to maximise his expertise and attain his full potential?
It’s one factor to take a position a excessive decide in a operating again when you have already got stability all through the remainder of the roster; a clear-cut, dependable starter at quarterback, a robust offensive line, and a protection that may make sure you’re not enjoying from behind in the second half. The Cardinals have none of these issues as they head into the 2026 season, and there is an argument to be made that Love has instantly grow to be the most gifted participant on the roster. That could possibly be an issue at a place that requires a lot from the surrounding items to be able to facilitate their success.
Jeremiyah Love was a big-play machine for the Fighting Irish. (Michael Caterina-Imagn Images)Michael Caterina-Imagn Images
The quarterback state of affairs is a multitude in Arizona. Jacoby Brissett is the incumbent starter, however the veteran is presently in search of extra money on his contract, concentrating on a quantity that is extra commensurate with that form of function. His largest competitors for the job is probably going Carson Beck, a third-round pick out of Miami who, regardless of six years of faculty expertise, continued to battle with the identical points (consistency, decision-making, accuracy, processing, turnovers) proper right down to the remaining throw of his collegiate profession: an interception to seal a nationwide title recreation loss to Indiana. I had a fifth-round grade on Beck, who landed at No. 180 total on my board. The Cardinals took him with the sixty fifth total decide.
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Gardner Minshew II can also be in the combine, however he is not prone to encourage any extra confidence than Brissett would at the high of the depth chart.
The offensive line has one high-quality starter in Paris Johnson Jr. at one deal with spot, however the remainder of the group is extra questions than solutions.
After taking Love, the Cards made a sensible determination to make use of their early second-round decide on this 12 months’s draft on Texas A&M‘s Chase Bisontis, however he is prone to go straight into the hearth as an instantaneous starter at one in every of the guard spots. The different will go to Isaac Seumalo, who signed a three-year deal in free company this offseason, and Arizona will want him to dwell as much as it instantly.
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Despite his expertise, Jeremiyah Love might battle early in his NFL profession with the Cardinals. (Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images)
The hope might be that these new additions will enhance an offense that completed next-to-last in the NFL in dashing final season, and allowed 59 sacks (fifth-most in the league).
There are different gifted playmakers at the talent positions, with one in every of the league’s best tight ends in Trey McBride, and a promising broad receiver tandem in Marvin Harrison Jr. and Michael Wilson. But they already understand how a lot their manufacturing and effectiveness depends on what occurs in the trenches and below heart.
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Last 12 months, the Las Vegas Raiders spent the No. 6 total decide on Ashton Jeanty, one other elite operating again prospect who dominated in school, and was extensively considered a top-five expertise in the 2025 NFL Draft class. But he struggled mightily out of the gate, thanks largely to a lackluster supporting forged that prolonged past the roster to the teaching employees.
Don’t be shocked if the identical factor occurs to Love, as he works by means of the grind of attempting to be the participant he was at Notre Dame whereas relying on a roster that lacks the identical degree of expertise he brings to the desk.
This story was initially printed by Athlon Sports on Jul 13, 2026, the place it first appeared in the NFL part. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.