The current Arizona Cardinals‘ running back room could not look much different from last season.
Out goes Emari Demercado and Michael Carter. In comes this year’s No. 3 overall NFL draft pick Jeremiyah Love and former 1,000-yard rusher Tyler Allgeier. These are changes so drastic that ESPN’s Ben Solak ranked Arizona’s running back room No. 1 in his “2026 NFL offseason: Ranking 10 biggest position upgrades” article that dropped on Friday, May 29.
Advertisement
The Cardinals’ first- and second-string running backs last season — James Conner and Trey Benson, respectively — appeared in a combined seven games in 2025. Conner had scored a touchdown in each of the full games he played, and Benson was averaging 5.5 yards per carry when on the field. The remaining production from Bam Knight and Emari Demercado was a far cry from what Love and Allgeier have the opportunity to do.
1 / 32
See Arizona Cardinals’ 2026 organized team activities in photos
Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride (85) walks during organized team activities at the Cardinals Training Facility in Tempe on May 27, 2026.
(Patrick Breen/The Republic)
1 / 32
See Arizona Cardinals’ 2026 organized team activities in photos
Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride (85) walks during organized team activities at the Cardinals Training Facility in Tempe on May 27, 2026.
(Patrick Breen/The Republic)
2 / 32
See Arizona Cardinals’ 2026 organized team activities in photos
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Beck (19) throws passes during organized team activities at the Cardinals Training Facility in Tempe on May 27, 2026.
(Patrick Breen/The Republic)
3 / 32
See Arizona Cardinals’ 2026 organized team activities in photos
Arizona Cardinals linebacker Baron Browning (5) waits with other linebackers for a drill during organized team activities at the Cardinals Training Facility in Tempe on May 27, 2026.
(Patrick Breen/The Republic)
4 / 32
See Arizona Cardinals’ 2026 organized team activities in photos
Arizona Cardinals defensive back Will Johnson (2) runs a drill during organized team activities at the Cardinals Training Facility in Tempe on May 27, 2026.
(Patrick Breen/The Republic)
5 / 32
See Arizona Cardinals’ 2026 organized team activities in photos
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Gardner Minshew II (15) throws passes during organized team activities at the Cardinals Training Facility in Tempe on May 27, 2026.
(Patrick Breen/The Republic)
6 / 32
See Arizona Cardinals’ 2026 organized team activities in photos
Arizona Cardinals defensive backs Budda Baker (3) and Garrett Williams (left) talk during organized team activities at the Cardinals Training Facility in Tempe on May 27, 2026.
(Patrick Breen/The Republic)
7 / 32
See Arizona Cardinals’ 2026 organized team activities in photos
Arizona Cardinals linebacker BJ Ojulari (9) warms up during organized team activities at the Cardinals Training Facility in Tempe on May 27, 2026.
(Patrick Breen/The Republic)
8 / 32
See Arizona Cardinals’ 2026 organized team activities in photos
Arizona Cardinals linebacker Baron Browning (5) waits with other linebackers for a drill during organized team activities at the Cardinals Training Facility in Tempe on May 27, 2026.
(Patrick Breen/The Republic)
9 / 32
See Arizona Cardinals’ 2026 organized team activities in photos
Cardinals tight end Trey McBride (85) walks during organized team activities at the Cardinals Training Facility in Tempe on May 27, 2026.
(Patrick Breen/The Republic)
10 / 32
See Arizona Cardinals’ 2026 organized team activities in photos
Arizona Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort (left) talks with head coach Mike LaFleur during organized team activities at the Cardinals Training Facility in Tempe on May 27, 2026.
(Patrick Breen/The Republic)
11 / 32
See Arizona Cardinals’ 2026 organized team activities in photos
Cardinals tight end Tip Reiman (87) walks barefoot during organized team activities at the Cardinals Training Facility in Tempe on May 27, 2026.
(Patrick Breen/The Republic)
12 / 32
See Arizona Cardinals’ 2026 organized team activities in photos
Cardinals defensive back Elijah Jones (28) runs a drill during organized team activities at the Cardinals Training Facility in Tempe on May 27, 2026.
(Patrick Breen/The Republic)
13 / 32
See Arizona Cardinals’ 2026 organized team activities in photos
Cardinals offensive lineman Hjalte Froholdt (72) warms up during organized team activities at the Cardinals Training Facility in Tempe on May 27, 2026.
(Patrick Breen/The Republic)
14 / 32
See Arizona Cardinals’ 2026 organized team activities in photos
Cardinals quarterback Carson Beck (19) throws passes during organized team activities at the Cardinals Training Facility in Tempe on May 27, 2026.
(Patrick Breen/The Republic)
15 / 32
See Arizona Cardinals’ 2026 organized team activities in photos
Cardinals linebacker Jordan Burch (52) gets some shade underneath a tree waiting for a drill during organized team activities at the Cardinals Training Facility in Tempe on May 27, 2026.
(Patrick Breen/The Republic)
16 / 32
See Arizona Cardinals’ 2026 organized team activities in photos
Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur walks between offense and defense during organized team activities at the Cardinals Training Facility in Tempe on May 27, 2026.
(Patrick Breen/The Republic)
17 / 32
See Arizona Cardinals’ 2026 organized team activities in photos
Cardinals defensive lineman Dante Stills squints through the sun and the sweat during organized team activities at the Cardinals Training Facility in Tempe on May 27, 2026.
(Patrick Breen/The Republic)
18 / 32
See Arizona Cardinals’ 2026 organized team activities in photos
Cardinals linebacker Baron Browning (5) runs a drill during organized team activities at the Cardinals Training Facility in Tempe on May 27, 2026.
(Patrick Breen/The Republic)
19 / 32
See Arizona Cardinals’ 2026 organized team activities in photos
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Beck (19) throws passes during organized team activities at the Cardinals Training Facility in Tempe on May 27, 2026.
(Patrick Breen/The Republic)
20 / 32
See Arizona Cardinals’ 2026 organized team activities in photos
Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort (left) talks with head coach Mike LaFleur during organized team activities at the Cardinals Training Facility in Tempe on May 27, 2026.
(Patrick Breen/The Republic)
21 / 32
See Arizona Cardinals’ 2026 organized team activities in photos
Cardinals defensive back Max Melton (16) runs a drill during organized team activities at the Cardinals Training Facility in Tempe on May 27, 2026.
(Patrick Breen/The Republic)
22 / 32
See Arizona Cardinals’ 2026 organized team activities in photos
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Gardner Minshew II (15) throws passes in front of quarterback Carson Beck (19) during organized team activities at the Cardinals Training Facility in Tempe on May 27, 2026.
(Patrick Breen/The Republic)
23 / 32
See Arizona Cardinals’ 2026 organized team activities in photos
Cardinals offensive lineman Demontrey Jacobs (67) warms up during organized team activities at the Cardinals Training Facility in Tempe on May 27, 2026.
(Patrick Breen/The Republic)
24 / 32
See Arizona Cardinals’ 2026 organized team activities in photos
Cardinals running back Jeremiyah Love (4) warms up during organized team activities at the Cardinals Training Facility in Tempe on May 27, 2026.
(Patrick Breen/The Republic)
25 / 32
See Arizona Cardinals’ 2026 organized team activities in photos
Cardinals defensive back Max Melton (16) runs a drill during organized team activities at the Cardinals Training Facility in Tempe on May 27, 2026.
(Patrick Breen/The Republic)
26 / 32
See Arizona Cardinals’ 2026 organized team activities in photos
Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort (left) talks with head coach Mike LaFleur during organized team activities at the Cardinals Training Facility in Tempe on May 27, 2026.
(Patrick Breen/The Republic)
27 / 32
See Arizona Cardinals’ 2026 organized team activities in photos
Cardinals defensive coordinator Nick Rallis watches his defense during organized team activities at the Cardinals Training Facility in Tempe on May 27, 2026.
(Patrick Breen/The Republic)
28 / 32
See Arizona Cardinals’ 2026 organized team activities in photos
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Beck (19) throws passes during organized team activities at the Cardinals Training Facility in Tempe on May 27, 2026.
(Patrick Breen/The Republic)
29 / 32
See Arizona Cardinals’ 2026 organized team activities in photos
Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort (left) talks with head coach Mike LaFleur during organized team activities at the Cardinals Training Facility in Tempe on May 27, 2026.
(Patrick Breen/The Republic)
30 / 32
See Arizona Cardinals’ 2026 organized team activities in photos
Cardinals quarterback Carson Beck (19) throws passes during organized team activities at the Cardinals Training Facility in Tempe on May 27, 2026.
(Patrick Breen/The Republic)
31 / 32
See Arizona Cardinals’ 2026 organized team activities in photos
Cardinals linebacker Zaven Collins (25) wipes his forehead in the shade during organized team activities at the Cardinals Training Facility in Tempe on May 27, 2026.
(Patrick Breen/The Republic)
32 / 32
See Arizona Cardinals’ 2026 organized team activities in photos
Cardinals defensive lineman Dante Stills (55) laughs as he warms up during organized team activities at the Cardinals Training Facility in Tempe on May 27, 2026.
(Patrick Breen/The Republic)
“Love has the lightning-quick speed and tackle-breaking ability to pair nicely with Allgeier’s gristly style, and he catches the passes on third down that Allgeier doesn’t want to see,” Solak said.
Love had success in a split backfield during his college days at Notre Dame with another 2026 first-round selection in Jadarian Price, and Allgeier had success in a split backfield with First-Team All-Pro RB Bijan Robinson the past three seasons with the Atlanta Falcons. Former Pro Bowler Conner and 2024 second-round pick Benson are still in the picture as well.
The team has question marks on the offensive line and hopes that adding former Pro Bowl guard Isaac Seumalo to the fold will pay dividends. The same can be said about the team drafting Texas A&M guard Chase Bisontis in the second round of this year’s draft.
Advertisement
Cardinals fans hope Solak is right and that the Arizona backfield proves deep and useful.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona Cardinals running backs top ESPN improvement list