{"id":868117,"date":"2026-04-17T03:02:14","date_gmt":"2026-04-17T03:02:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/868117\/"},"modified":"2026-04-17T03:02:14","modified_gmt":"2026-04-17T03:02:14","slug":"commanders-get-good-news-on-jeremiyah-love-before-nfl-draft","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/868117\/","title":{"rendered":"Commanders Get Good News on Jeremiyah Love Before NFL Draft"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\"Jeremiyah\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGetty\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love rushed for 1,372 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2025.<\/p>\n

The Washington Commanders<\/a> are keen on selecting Notre Dame<\/a> running back Jeremiyah Love<\/a> if he\u2019s available at No. 7 in the NFL<\/a> draft, which begins one week from now, and the franchise got good news on that front Thursday via a report involving the Tennessee Titans<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Tennessee picks at No. 4 and is one of two teams ahead of Washington in the draft order that might decide to spend a selection on Love, who is head and shoulders above every other RB prospect in the 2026 class.<\/p>\n

However, Jason LaCanfora of SportsBoom reported April 16 that the Titans are not going to land on Love, even despite considerable speculation to the contrary, and will go with a defensive player instead.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re going defense,\u201d LaCanfora quoted a longtime personnel executive<\/a>. \u201cI love the running back, but [Robert] Saleh isn\u2019t taking a running back there. If you study how this plays out, with a new head coach, that first pick is almost always on his side of the ball. There\u2019s going to be a run on defensive players after (presumptive first-overall pick, quarterback Fernando) Mendoza, and he\u2019s going to be in it.\u201d<\/p>\n

LaCanfora also cited a current general manager who said he also does not see the Titans landing on Love inside the top five.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d be really surprised if they went running back,\u201d the GM said, per LaCanfora.<\/p>\n

Commanders Likely to Draft Jeremiyah Love if Opportunity Arises\"Jeremiyah<\/p>\n

GettyNotre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Tony Pauline of Essentially Sports reported that the Commanders feel the exact opposite about picking Love if he falls to them at No. 7, even despite Washington\u2019s many needs on defense including at pass-rusher, linebacker and cornerback.<\/p>\n

\u201cSeveral people tell me the team will jump all over Jeremiyah Love if he falls into their laps, with the direct quote being, \u2018The team loves Love,’\u201d Pauline wrote Wednesday<\/a>. \u201cHe\u2019d be an additional weapon for Jayden Daniels<\/a>, who\u2019s coming off an injury-plagued season, and would end Washington\u2019s running-back-by-committee approach.\u201d<\/p>\n

Love finished third in Heisman Trophy voting last season after putting up 1,372 rushing yards and 18 TDs<\/a> on 6.9 yards per carry. He added 27 receptions for 280 yards and three scores.<\/p>\n

Jeremiyah Love Special Player at Running Back Position\"Jeremiyah<\/p>\n

GettyNotre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love.<\/p>\n

Running back is not a need teams typically consider inside the top 10 given the shorter shelf-life of the physically-demanding position and because the contract value of rookie deals is stronger for players who play premier spots, such as quarterback and pass-rusher, which cost much more than even the best RBs in free agency.<\/p>\n

However, Love is one of the rare exceptions given his skill set and potential value to a franchise like the Commanders. Dane Brugler of The Athletic recently ranked Love as the second-best prospect at any position heading into next week\u2019s draft.<\/p>\n

\u201cLove is an explosive athlete with a remarkable blend of balance and burst to be dynamic as both a runner and in the passing game,\u201d Brugler wrote<\/a>. \u201cHe is one of the most talented players in the 2026 draft class and projects as a high-upside NFL weapon.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tMax Dible<\/a> covers the NFL, NBA and MLB for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Chicago Bears and Cleveland Browns. He covered local and statewide news as a reporter for West Hawaii Today and served as news director for BigIslandNow.com and Pacific Media Group’s family of Big Island radio stations before joining Heavy. More about Max Dible<\/a>\t\t<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tMore Heavy on Commanders\n\t\t<\/p>\n

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