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Josh Weinfuss
Multiple Authors
TEMPE, Ariz. — As soon as the New York Jets took David Bailey with the second pick in the NFL draft, Jeremiyah Love had a feeling where he was headed.
A conversation with general manager Monti Ossenfort over the weekend left Love believing he’d end up with the Arizona Cardinals because of the “great dialogue” between the two.
And his gut was right.
The Cardinals drafted Love with the No. 3 pick Thursday night, making the former Notre Dame star the first running back to be drafted in the top five since Saquon Barkley went to the New York Giants at No. 2 in 2018.
It’s a position that Love didn’t take lightly.
“It’s very special,” Love said. “I have the opportunity to really set a new standard for running backs. We’ve already had Saquon, we’ve had Bijan [Robinson], we’ve had Ashton Jeanty, and now you have me. It is my job and it’s my duty to make sure that when I step foot in Arizona that I do what I got to do to represent the backs and represent Arizona in the right way.
“So, that’s what I’m going to do coming into the league. I’m going to make sure I represent the right way. And, yeah, I’m very blessed to have that opportunity, man, and I’m just ready to work and do what I got to do to have success.”
Arizona decided earlier this week that Love would be the pick if he was on the board at No. 3, Ossenfort said.
The Cardinals discussed other players, Ossenfort said, with the goal being to draft an “impact player.” However, there was one minor hiccup when Arizona tried to call Love on Thursday night. The Cardinals were given the wrong number, Ossenfort said, and couldn’t reach Love to tell him he was their pick.
Once they get it squared away, with the eight-minute clock winding down, Ossenfort called Love and informed him.
Love will join a crowded running backs room in Arizona that includes veteran James Conner, who has been the Cardinals’ starter since 2022; Trey Benson, whom Arizona drafted in 2024; recently signed Tyler Allgeier, whom Arizona gave $8 million guaranteed in March; and Bam Knight, who had 82 carries for 269 yards and four touchdowns in 12 games last season playing in place of Conner and Benson.
It’s a group that Love said he’s “very excited” to join. Ossenfort explained that the competition within the room “will take care of itself.”
“That’ll be for [coach] Mike [LaFleur] and his staff to sort out,” Ossenfort said. “But it’s a good problem to have.”
Love is ready to do what he needs to do in the running backs room.
“They got a great group of guys in there,” Love said. “I’m ready to come and compete, build a better culture, a culture of brotherhood and trust and togetherness. I’m just ready to contribute to the room, contribute to the team and just help the Cardinals be a better organization.”
Last season, all of the Cardinals’ running backs combined didn’t have 300 carries — the only team in the NFL to not reach that mark. Arizona averaged 93.1 rushing yards last season — the second-lowest in the NFL — and the Cardinals’ nine rushing touchdowns were tied for the second fewest in the league in 2025.
But Love averaged 114.3 rushing yards last season to complement his 18 rushing touchdowns.
Love said it doesn’t matter if he gets 10, 15 or 20 carries per game this season; he says he thinks Arizona will do “great things” with a “great plan for our offense.”
“I’m ready to contribute to this team’s success,” Love said. “I’m ready to do what I got to do so that we can go out there and win some games and potentially win the Super Bowl, as well.”
Ossenfort said there were “minimal” conversations about moving out of No. 3, adding that the discussions he had were surface level and “nothing that came close to getting us to move off the pick.” He added that Arizona had “some conversations” about moving back into the first round around picks 24 or 25 but ultimately decided to stand pat.
Love says he feels ready for his opportunity, thanks, in part, to his chats with Ossenfort.
“I’m not going to get into the specifics of it, but we had a great conversation,” Love said. “I love him. He loves me. And we’re going to make this relationship work. We’re going to deepen this relationship and we’re going to do some great things.”
Love said he quickly hit it off with Ossenfort and the rest of the Cardinals’ brass, saying he felt welcomed by everyone.
“They’re very kindhearted. They spoke very well. And, I mean, we just immediately hit it off. There was no, I feel like, ‘Oh, I got to see who this person really, really is,'” Love said. “I feel like they believed in everything that everybody was saying about me. They got to meet me and just showed them who I am and I was being authentic.
“And, shoot, the relationship just was good from the start. There was no trying to dig deeper and really pry into me really. There was just authenticity and just good vibes all around.”
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