The Washington Commanders have a lot of needs to address at the upcoming NFL Draft. But running back is among them, according to NFL insider Jason La Canfora.
The longtime NFL writer linked Jeremiyah Love to the Commanders with the No. 7 pick and cited sources who called the Notre Dame running back “exactly what their offense needs.”
Washington is coming off a lost 2025 season where it went 5-12 and finished in last place in the NFC East. But the Commanders were, of course, in the NFC Championship Game in 2024 and could rebound with a healthy Jayden Daniels and some upgrades around him.
Jason La Canfora Links Commanders to Jeremiyah Love
Love may be long gone by the time the Commanders make their first pick Thursday night in Pittsburgh. But in his recent story for Sports Boom, La Canfora cited sources who feel the Commanders need to strike if the Notre Dame back is still on the board to support Daniels ahead of his third season.
“If he gets passed Washington at [No.] 7, then somebody [screwed] up,” La Canfora cited a longtime NFL talent evaluator saying. âHeâs exactly what that offense needs. The best thing they can do for that quarterback is to take Love if heâs there.”
Love had 21 touchdowns in his junior season for Notre Dame, including 18 on the ground. He rushed for 1,372 yards and caught 27 passes for 280 receiving yards, his second straight 1,300+ all-purpose-yard season.
Insiders Feel the Adam Peters Will Pick Love if He’s Available
There are those who are leery of taking a running back in the top-10, since it is considered a luxury position, and teams selecting that high need more important players.
The New York Giants are still being lampooned for selecting Saquon Barkley with the No. 2 pick in the 2018 draft, and Bijan Robinson has yet to play in a playoff game despite being chosen eighth overall in 2023. Ashton Jeanty was the Las Vegas Raiders‘ pick at No. 6 a year ago, and they are picking first this season.
But many feel Love is worth the risk.
“I donât want to hear that s— about itâs too high to take a running back,” the exec told La Canfora. “Bijan went [No.] 8, and Saquon was worth the pick and (Christian) McCaffrey was a top-10 pick. I wouldnât have taken the running back as high as Vegas did last year, but this kid is a better football player.”
Commanders GM Adam Peters has made blockbuster deals for running backs in the past, notably when as a San Francisco 49ers exec he acquired Christian McCaffrey from the Carolina Panthers in 2023. That moved helped the Niners ultimately reach the NFC Championship Game then the Super Bowl in 2024.
“I think Washington is the floor,” La Canfora quoted a different NFL exec. “The draft is about supply and demand and who really needs a running back. The GM comes from San Francisco. They made the trade for McCaffrey.â
La Canfora also believes Peters may get aggressive if he gets wind of the Giants, or ex-Niners defensive coordinator Robert Saleh with the Tennessee Titans at No. 4, angling to pick Love.
“Scouts rave about Loveâs character and love of football, and while there may be no such thing as a completely safe pick, he comes pretty close,” La Canfora wrote. “Some in the industry believe Washington could be inclined to move up a spot or two to secure his rights.”
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