Cardinals Select Jeremiyah Love as Third Overall Draft Pick
The Arizona Cardinals have made a significant move by selecting running back Jeremiyah Love from Notre Dame as the third overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. This marks a notable moment as Love becomes the first running back drafted this year and the highest since Saquon Barkley was chosen second overall by the New York Giants in 2018.
Jeremiyah Love’s Impressive College Career
Standing 6 feet tall and weighing 212 pounds, Jeremiyah Love had an outstanding final season with the Fighting Irish. He recorded:
- 1,372 rushing yards
- 18 touchdowns on 199 carries
- 27 receptions for 280 yards and three touchdowns
These impressive stats earned him an All-American title and a third-place finish in Heisman Trophy voting. Over the past two seasons, Love consistently demonstrated his skill, totaling at least 1,125 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns each year while averaging 6.9 yards per carry.
Contract Details and Expectations
As the third overall pick, Jeremiyah Love’s contract carries an average annual value of $12.5 million, positioning it as the seventh-highest for an NFL running back. His contract is structured as follows:
- $9.2 million in 2026
- Increases to $11.5 million in 2027
- $13.8 million in 2028
- $16.1 million in 2029
Impact on the Cardinals’ Roster
Love joins a deep running backs room in Arizona, which has recently made several adjustments. The Cardinals have:
- Revised James Conner’s contract
- Signed Tyler Allgeier in free agency
- Re-signed Bam Knight
- Kept Trey Benson in the mix
Last season, Arizona’s run game struggled, finishing second to last in both rushing yards per game (93.1) and rushing touchdowns (nine). This performance was only surpassed by the Las Vegas Raiders, who featured rookie Ashton Jeanty. To bolster their run game, the Cardinals upgraded the left side of their offensive line by signing Isaac Seumalo but still need to address the right side.
NFL analyst Charles Davis noted the importance of this pick, stating that the fanbase needs “juice” and that Love could bring that energy reminiscent of players like Christian McCaffrey.
