The Arizona Cardinals drafted Jeremiyah Love with the third overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. With such a high draft pick used on a skill player, Love figures to play a central role in new head coach Mike LaFleur’s offense.
With rookie minicamp coming up May 8-10, the Cardinals‘ lead back has made a big decision on what jersey number he’ll wear. The team announced the jersey numbers from their 2026 rookie class.
Love’s No. 4 is the same number he wore at Notre Dame. In 2025, he accumulated 1,652 yards from scrimmage and scored 21 touchdowns for the Fighting Irish.
Jeremiyah Love’s Fit with the Cardinals
With the Cardinals investing a high pick in the young running back, he figures to play a big role in the offense. LaFleur and Hackett have worked with a dynamic, three-down back before.
In Los Angeles, LaFleur and head coach Sean McVay turned Kyren Williams into one of the most efficient backs over the past three years. Williams has averaged over 1200 yards per season with an offensive success rate on 57% of his carries. Hackett helped develop Aaron Jones into a dynamic threat in their shared time in Green Bay.
Going into the 2026 season, Arizona’s offense will attempt to feature a 1-2 punch between Love and veteran back James Conner. Conner is expected to churn out tough yards on early downs, while Love will play a more dynamic role in the offense. The rookie back should serve as a jolt of energy thanks to his 4.36 40-yard dash time, and eventually grow in the passing game as his route-running and pass blocking improve.
This is a similar dynamic to the David Montgomery-Jahmyr Gibbs combination that the Detroit Lions bludgeoned teams with over the past three seasons. Both LaFleur and Hackett are hoping for similar results with Conner and Love.
Cardinals Running Back Situation Entering 2026
When the Cardinals enter team minicamp in June and training camp in late July, there should be more clarity in the roles if both backs are healthy.
Conner is rehabbing from foot surgery after suffering a nasty injury in September 2025. Despite the injury and being a potential cap casualty in the offseason, the team chose to keep the Pro Bowler for his sixth season in Arizona.
Trey Benson, who’s entering his third season with the club, could be a candidate to get some carries. Benson is still on his rookie deal, but missed the final 14 weeks of the season with injuries. He could be a potential trade candidate when the Cardinals need to cut down their roster to 53 players at the end of the preseason.
With uncertainty regarding the Cardinals’ quarterback situation, the best remedy may be to establish the run game. That should put their offense in more favorable down-and-distance situations for their offense.
Veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett appears to have the inside track to be the starter going into minicamps. Arizona signed another journeyman, Gardner Minshew II, to compete with Brissett and drafted Carson Beck in the third round of the draft. The quarterback battle should be one of the more captivating storylines in LaFleur’s first training camp as head coach.
Like HEAVY’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on HEAVY
The post Cardinals RB Jeremiyah Love Makes Decision Ahead of Camp appeared first on HEAVY.