Most NFL Draft analysts think that the excitement really begins with the Arizona Cardinals at No. 3. With the first two picks mostly settled, Arizona is the first team who could really shake things up for the rest of the teams.
With needs all over the roster including quarterback, offensive tackle, edge rusher and more, the Cardinals can go any number of ways with their first round selection, but ESPN Insider Adam Schefter believes that Arizona is down to two options.
According to Schefter, the Cardinals are strongly considering Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, or a possible trade down to acquire more draft capital.
“There is growing chatter in league circles that Love is truly in play at the high end of that range with Arizona,” wrote Schefter. “Ideally, the Cardinals would like to find a team willing to trade up so they can acquire more picks, and there have already been “exploratory” calls, as one source described it, regarding the No. 3 selection. But if the Cardinals hold on to their pick, some around the league believe they could pull an early draft surprise and select Love in a slot slightly higher than he has been projected to go.”
Jeremiyah Love to the Arizona Cardinals is Moving Full Steam Ahead
Despite already having James Connor on the roster and adding Tyler Allgeier in free agency, it appears plausible the Cardinals could still add Love at No. 3 overall. Widely regarded as one of the best players in the entire draft, Love would be a luxury for an Arizona running back room that is already fairly strong. Still, his home-run capabilities after racking up 1,372 yards and 18 touchdowns last season might be too tempting to resist.
The Cardinals had the 31st ranked rushing attack in 2025, and Love would be a quick fix for a team that needs some more juice on offense. He would immediately transform the Arizona backfield into one of the most formidable in the league. But while running back would be solved, bigger questions still remain at quarterback.
Could the Cardinals Trade Down to Select a Quarterback?
Should Arizona trade down, they could pick up some extra picks to be able to land Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson. The Cardinals have been one of a few teams linked to the signal-caller, who is expected to be selected near the end of the first round. If Arizona does pass on Love, a Simpson selection becomes much more possible.
Simpson threw for 3,567 yards and 25 touchdowns to eight interceptions in 2025, and is considered the second-best quarterback in the draft behind projected first overall pick Fernando Mendoza. With Jacoby Brissett’s holdout, the position is far from settled in Arizona, and Simpson could make the most sense for newly hired head coach Mike LaFleur.
Ultimately, all eyes will be on Arizona and the No. 3 pick come Thursday night. How Arizona approaches the pick could alter the strategy of every other team picking behind them in the first round. Either way, the Cardinals will be adding a potential cornerstone player this week.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post NFL Insider Adds Fuel to the Fire for a Surprising Cardinals Draft Pick appeared first on Heavy Sports.