When it comes to drafting in all of professional sports, they say that drafting the best player available instead of the best player for you is the better way to live. Eagles GM Howie Roseman has made a living off bringing the best players to Philly, even if it seems that a player isn’t in a position of need.
The Cardinals decided to test that theory on Thursday night by taking Jeremiyah Love with the third pick of the draft. From a talent perspective, Love should be able to fit right into any NFL locker room and provide immediate productivity for an offense that needs weapons. That being said, for an offense that did need more weapons, I’m not sure Love was the guy to pick.
When Arizona selected Jeremiyah Love, he became the highest-paid running back in NFL history without ever stepping on a football field. The pressure immediately placed upon his shoulders will be immense. Love will be entering the NFL, not only expected to adjust to the sport at the professional level, but also to do so at a near All-Pro level very early in his career.
I’m not saying that Love can’t do that, but it’s not a simple task for anyone who was drafted on Thursday.
Again, drafting the best available can be smart, and if you’re that high on Love, it’s not a crazy pick, but running back was absolutely unnecessary for Arizona. At 30-years-old, the Cardinals must think he won’t be able to bounce back from a season of only three games in 2025. They also had already signed Tyler Allegeir, so there’s some decent depth in the running back room.
Love is the most explosive player in a bad draft class, but I’m not sure he’s worth a third overall selection. The biggest issue is positional value. Drafting a running back that high in the first round is a poor return on investment. In the NFL, running backs already have so many miles on their legs, so you’re only going to have these guys for so long.
If you’re a team close to Super Bowl contention, it’s always a great idea to add a running back to put you over the edge. Another great move from Howie Roseman was signing Saquon Barkley to push Philly over the top in 2025. The Cardinals need way too much help on both sides of the ball; overpaying for a running back feels like a very poor decision on their end.
