NFL Analysts Warn Teams With Top 10 Picks Against Drafting Jeremiyah Love

Mina Kimes and Nate Tice caution that Love's talent may not be the best fit for teams with young quarterbacks in need of other offensive support.

Apr. 4, 2026 at 7:50pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

NFL analysts are warning teams with top 10 picks in the 2026 NFL Draft against selecting Notre Dame star running back Jeremiyah Love, despite his elite talent. Analysts Mina Kimes and Nate Tice argue that while Love is a highly skilled prospect, teams with young quarterbacks would be better served using their premium draft capital to build up the offensive line and receiving corps rather than investing in a running back.

Why it matters

The debate around Jeremiyah Love's draft stock highlights the broader question of how teams should approach roster-building, especially when developing a young quarterback. The analysts' concerns suggest that even elite running back talent may not be the most efficient way to maximize offensive production and support a young passer.

The details

Kimes and Tice believe that teams in the top 10 of the draft should be cautious about selecting Love, even though his talent is undeniable. Their hesitation is not about Love's ability, but rather the roster-building logic of spending premium draft capital on a running back when teams with young quarterbacks often see the most success by prioritizing the offensive line and receiving corps. The analysts point to examples of young QBs who have broken out with elite receivers or offensive lines, rather than relying on a dominant running game.

  • The discussion took place during a recent NFL draft preview on ESPN.

The players

Jeremiyah Love

A star running back prospect from Notre Dame who is expected to be selected early in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Mina Kimes

An ESPN NFL analyst who raised concerns about teams drafting Love in the top 10.

Nate Tice

An NFL analyst who agreed with Kimes' perspective on the risks of drafting Love early in the draft for teams with young quarterbacks.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“It's not that I don't think [Jeremiyah] Love is worthy of a high pick. It's just that in a team building sense, I would scream at all these teams and say, 'You have so much more that you need than a running back that I think is a cherry on top to what you have.'”

— Nate Tice, NFL Analyst

“The Cowboys point brings me to the other thing that gets mentioned a lot, which is like, you got to help your young quarterback. We are all on this pod, Cam Ward fans, Titans fans. When you look back at the young QBs, year one or two, who broke out, and you look at the conditions. Every single one of them... had either a WR one, like a legit dude, or... an elite offensive line. Very few of them had elite RBs, to be honest. It's wide receiver, and the offensive line.”

— Mina Kimes, ESPN NFL Analyst

What’s next

As the 2026 NFL Draft approaches, teams with top 10 picks will have to carefully weigh the value of selecting Jeremiyah Love against the potential need to prioritize building up the offensive line and receiving corps to support their young quarterbacks.

The takeaway

The debate around Jeremiyah Love's draft stock highlights the complex tradeoffs teams face when building their rosters, especially when developing a young quarterback. While Love's talent is undeniable, the analysts' concerns suggest that even elite running back prospects may not be the most efficient use of premium draft capital for teams in need of broader offensive support.