Browns Urged to Trade Up for Top RB Prospect Jeremiyah Love

Cleveland GM Andrew Berry hints at draft day moves, but will it be enough to land the coveted Notre Dame star?

Apr. 17, 2026 at 1:55pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a football player in motion, with sharp, overlapping shapes and planes representing the raw power and athleticism of the sport.A cubist interpretation of a dynamic running back's explosive movements captures the essence of Jeremiyah Love's game-changing potential.Cleveland Today

The Cleveland Browns are being urged by a top talent evaluator to trade up in the 2026 NFL Draft to select Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, who is widely regarded as the best offensive prospect in this year's class. Browns GM Andrew Berry has hinted at the possibility of moving up or down from the 6th overall pick, but it's unclear how high Cleveland would need to go to land the dynamic playmaker, with the Arizona Cardinals, Tennessee Titans, and New York Giants all potentially interested in drafting Love.

Why it matters

The Browns are in need of a game-changing running back after last season's starter, Quinshon Judkins, suffered a serious leg injury. Love is viewed as a potential generational talent who could immediately upgrade Cleveland's offense and take pressure off of quarterback Deshaun Watson. However, the competition to land Love is fierce, so the Browns may have to part with significant draft capital to move up and secure his services.

The details

According to a longtime NFL talent evaluator, Jeremiyah Love is "the best prospect" the evaluator has ever scouted, describing him as "special" and comparing him to elite dual-threat backs like Christian McCaffrey and Jahmyr Gibbs. The Browns' current starting running back, Quinshon Judkins, had a strong rookie season in 2025 but suffered a devastating leg injury late in the year, leaving his future status uncertain. Meanwhile, the Cardinals, Titans, and Giants have all been linked to Love, who is widely expected to be off the board before the Browns' 6th overall pick.

  • On April 17, 2026, Browns GM Andrew Berry spoke with reporters and hinted at the possibility of trading up or down from the 6th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
  • The 2026 NFL Draft is scheduled for April 23, 2026.

The players

Andrew Berry

The general manager of the Cleveland Browns, who has hinted at the possibility of trading up or down in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Jeremiyah Love

A star running back from the University of Notre Dame, who is widely regarded as the best offensive prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft class.

Quinshon Judkins

The Cleveland Browns' starting running back in 2025, who suffered a serious leg injury late in the season.

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What they’re saying

“He's that good.”

— Longtime NFL talent evaluator

“He's special. If you think about some of the dual-threat backs that the league has had, obviously, Christian McCaffrey may be the poster child for that. Jahmyr Gibbs may be kind of the next generation of that. Jeremiyah certainly has a lot of those abilities and capabilities. He's a very dynamic prospect.”

— Andrew Berry, Cleveland Browns General Manager

What’s next

The Browns will need to determine how high they are willing to trade up in the draft order to secure Jeremiyah Love's services, as the Cardinals, Titans, and Giants are all potential landing spots for the coveted running back prospect.

The takeaway

The Browns' need for a game-changing running back has become even more pressing after Quinshon Judkins' injury, and Jeremiyah Love is widely viewed as the top offensive prospect in this year's draft. However, the competition to land Love is fierce, so the Browns may have to part with significant draft capital to move up and select him, a move that could pay dividends for their offense for years to come.