Running backs like Jeremiyah Love do not come round too usually, and the Cardinals ensured they weren’t going to overlook out. Arizona chosen Love third general Thursday, making the previous Notre Dame star the earliest operating again chosen since Saquon Barkley went second to the Giants in 2018.
Love is tied with Trent Richardson (No. 3 to the Browns in 2012) for the fourth-earliest operating again choice in your entire twenty first century. Barkley, Reggie Bush (No. 2 to the Saints in 2006) and Ronnie Brown (No. 2 to the Dolphins in 2005) are tied for the highest-drafted operating backs this century.
No operating again has been drafted first general since 1995, when the Bengals chosen Ki-Jana Carter.
A unanimous choice to the (*3*) final 12 months, Love ran for 1,372 yards and 18 touchdowns (on 6.9 yards per carry) for the Fighting Irish. Overall, he posted 1,652 yards from scrimmage and 21 touchdowns, ending third in Heisman Trophy.
Love was CBS Sports lead NFL Draft scout Mike Renner’s No. 7 overall prospect within the class.
Love is what everybody appears for at operating again these days. He’s a real home-run hitter with elite contact steadiness and explosiveness. With the rise of NFL defenses enjoying mild containers, Love can power groups to carry a security into the field.
Overall, Love turns into the twenty fourth operating again to go within the high three picks within the fashionable draft period (since 1967). Only 5 of these 24 cases have been within the final 30 years.
Highest-drafted RBs since 1967
| Ki-Jana Carter | 1 | Bengals | 1995 |
| Bo Jackson | 1 | Buccaneers | 1986 |
| George Rogers | 1 | Saints | 1981 |
| Billy Sims | 1 | Lions | 1980 |
| Earl Campbell | 1 | Titans | 1978 |
| Ricky Bell | 1 | Buccaneers | 1977 |
| O.J. Simpson | 1 | Bills | 1969 |
| Saquon Barkley | 2 | Giants | 2018 |
| Reggie Bush | 2 | Saints | 2006 |
| Ronnie Brown | 2 | Dolphins | 2005 |
| Marshall Faulk | 2 | Colts | 1994 |
| Blair Thomas | 2 | Jets | 1990 |
| Eric Dickerson | 2 | Rams | 1983 |
| Tony Dorsett | 2 | Cowboys | 1977 |
| Bo Matthews | 2 | Chargers | 1974 |
| Clint Jones | 2 | Vikings | 1967 |
| Jeremiyah Love | 3 | Cardinals | 2026 |
| Trent Richardson | 3 | Browns | 2012 |
| Garrison Hearst | 3 | Cardinals | 1993 |
| Barry Sanders | 3 | Lions | 1989 |
| Alonzo Highsmith | 3 | Titans | 1987 |
| Curt Warner | 3 | Seahawks | 1983 |
| Freeman McNeil | 3 | Jets | 1981 |
| Chuck Muncie | 3 | Saints | 1976 |
Along with the excessive draft billing, Love will get a serious payday, too. Per Spotrac‘s rookie wage scale, Love will obtain a four-year, $50.5 million deal because the No. 3 decide. That already places him among the many place’s highest-paid gamers by way of common annual worth.
Highest-paid RBs
Also, as a result of rookie contracts are assured, he can have essentially the most assured cash of any operating again contract by a large margin. Barkley’s $36 million assured was the very best within the league.
In Arizona, Love joins a backfield that additionally consists of James Conner and others. As the primary decide of recent coach Mike LaFleur, Love will see a substantial workload instantly and look to supply a serious enhance to an offense that completed thirty first in dashing yards and twenty seventh in explosive rush fee final 12 months.
