The NFL has become notoriously biased against taking running backs early in the NFL Draft, but many analysts are making an exception with former Notre Dame star Jeremiyah Love in 2026. That includes ESPN’s Mike Tannenbaum, who wants to see either the Tennessee Titans or New York Giants take the plunge for “quarterback development.”
Tannenbaum, a former general manager for the New York Jets, said he wants to see the two teams that selected quarterbacks in the first round in 2025 take Love for the benefit of their young franchise centerpieces. The 57-year-old called Love “too unique to pass up” for either team in the top 10.
“I would [draft Jeremiyah Love for] quarterback development,” Tannenbaum said on ESPN’s ‘Get Up.’ “If we’re at Tennessee, this is about developing Cam Ward. If we’re at the Giants, it’s about Jaxson Dart. I think Jeremiyah Love gets pigeon-holed into the running back conversation, but he had 63 catches. When you watch him run routes, this is an offensive weapon.
“When you’re developing a young quarterback, you’re trying to lighten the load, actually bring down his attempts early in his career, so he gets settled into the offense. Then you’re also looking for long hand-off. That’s two things Jeremiyah Love can do. He doesn’t fumble; he’s a great pass-protector. I understand just pointing at the analytics, but if the four of us were running a team, I would push back on and say on a $300 million salary cap, we’re losing the surplus value argument on this player, let’s find it someplace else. This player is too unique to pass up.”
“This player is too unique to pass up.”
—@RealTannenbaum on whether Jeremiyah Love will be drafted in the top 5… pic.twitter.com/uHJzzDK01U
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) April 17, 2026
Love was a unanimous All-American in 2025 after racking up 1,372 rushing yards, 18 rushing touchdowns, 280 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns in his final season in South Bend.
The Titans are picking at No. 4, one spot ahead of the Giants, giving them the first shot at potentially taking Love. However, New York has been the team most commonly connected to the Doak Walker Award winner throughout the pre-draft process.
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