Jeremiyah Love, the Notre Dame running back considered by some to be the best player in the 2026 NFL Draft, is taking a “30” visit to the New York Giants on Thursday.
The Giants also met with Love at the NFL Scouting Combine. Is he really in play for the Giants at No. 5 in the upcoming draft?
NFL Draft analyst Todd McShay certainly thinks so. Here is what McShay wrote in his subscription only newsletter this week:
On Monday, three teams I previously identified as potential fits for Love—the Cardinals (Tyler Allgeier), Saints (Travis Etienne), and Chiefs (Ken Walker)—signed free-agent running backs, which significantly narrows Love’s market in the top 10. But only one team needs to fall in love with him, and it’s possible the Chiefs and Saints had intel to suggest he wouldn’t last until their respective draft positions. And for Arizona, maybe they just saw more value at the position in free agency.
Which brings us to the other best fits in the top 10: the Titans at 4 and the Giants at 5. If it’s not one of them, I could see the Commanders at 7 taking the swing to give Jayden Daniels a young, electric playmaking partner—in the running and receiving game—under contract for the foreseeable future. The Commanders could (and should) also field calls for the pick. In that scenario, I could see a team like the Vikings trading up.
The take-home message: Love is the best player in the draft—and the best player doesn’t get to pick 11, regardless of position.
Love is the No. 1 player on the Sports Info Solutions Big Board, and No. 2 behind quarterback Fernando Mendoza on the big boards of NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah and ESPN’s Mel Kiper.
Jeremiah writes:
Love is a dynamic weapon as a runner and receiver. On inside runs, he runs high/narrow, but he explodes to and through the hole. He will drop a level lower on contact and has the lower-leg drive to bounce off defenders. He doesn’t always let things develop because he can get skinny through narrow passages. He has elite speed on outside runs to capture the corner and take it the distance. He has a rare ability to make defenders miss without gearing down. His spin move is electric. In the passing game, he can run routes like a wideout. He’s smooth, polished and natural. He plucks the ball effortlessly. In pass protection, he is both aware and willing, but he’s best utilized out in the route. Overall, Love is a home run hitter and will immediately expand the playbook for his drafting team.
Giants fans, of course, have PTSD from Dave Gettleman refusing to take calls offering trade down scenarios and then selecting running back Saquon Barkley No. 2 overall in the 2018 NFL Draft.
As great a player as Barkley was, and still is, beginning the rebuild of a 3-13 team by selecting a running back never seemed like a great idea. The Giants made the playoffs just once in his six seasons in New York, and when it came time to pay him general manager Joe Schoen wasn’t willing to outbid the Philadelphia Eagles and watched Barkley walk.
For many, the Giants drafting Love at No. 5 would be repeating the same mistake. And, our ‘Big Blue View Rules for Draft Success’ are not fond of the idea of taking running backs so early in the draft.
The NFL is changing somewhat, though, with the running game and top-tier running backs having a bit of a resurgence.
New Giants head coach John Harbaugh has always believed in a physical, run-first style. Perhaps more than many NFL head coaches. Signing fullback Patrick Ricard, blocking tight end Chris Manhertz, and even the 6-foot-7, 340-pound Evan Neal are indications Harbaugh intends to implement that style in East Rutherford.
Remember, too, what Harbaugh told Mike Francesa about his view of the No. 5 overall pick:
“When you draft that high, you take the best player. It’s not a need pick. It’s the best player pick because you’re going for the guy that’s going to be that kind of a player. You’re talking about a guy that you would like to see someday wearing a gold jacket if possible.”
Love, Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles, and Ohio State safety Caleb Downs are on almost every list when “blue-chip” draft prospects are the topic. There might be a couple more.
When you think of the value Harbaugh places on the run game and his desire for one of those potential “gold jacket” players you simply have to think Love is a possibility for the Giants. Barkley PTSD in the fan base or not.
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