RB Jeremiyah Love Moving Up Board in Latest NFL Mock Draft
Sportsbooks are buying into Jeremiyah Love more than draft experts want to admit. BetMGM's John Ewing reports that the Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back's odds to go No. 3 overall jumped from +3000 to +800.
And he's also drawing 31.6% of the betting handle at that slot, the most of any player. The money is moving, even if analysts have been slow to catch up.
To understand Love's landing spot, look at the "four-round mock draft" format. These projections, released just days before the draft, include Day 2 and Day 3 picks. For a running back, this depth shows exactly where analysts think his value peaks and how teams plan to build around him.
Mock draft specialist Luke Easterling released his final four-round forecast a week before the draft. While many had Love going to the Tennessee Titans at No. 4, Easterling moved him up to the Arizona Cardinals at No. 3.
Jeremiyah Love has moved from +3000 to +800 to be the 3rd Pick in the NFL Draft at @BetMGM
— John Ewing (@johnewing) April 16, 2026
31.6% of money (most) is on @NDFootball running back to go 3rd
But David Bailey is +155 favorite to be taken with this pick pic.twitter.com/J9p2GObWpM
This shift matches the betting trends. He argued that if Arizona doesn't trade down, they'll prioritize Love's transcendent playmaking ability over traditional positional value, branding him a "true three-down weapon."
The case for Love going in the top three starts with three years of steady production at Notre Dame. Every single year, his performance improved, and in 2025, he had one of the most complete seasons by any back in recent college history with 1,372 rushing yards on 199 carries, averaging 6.9 yards per carry and scoring 18 touchdowns.
He was a Heisman finalist, a unanimous All-American, and the first Notre Dame player to win the Doak Walker Award as the nation's best running back.
Then at the combine, Love ran a 4.36-second 40-yard dash, then stayed after the running back workouts to participate in wide receiver drills to further demonstrate his versatility. NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah didn't hesitate to call him a "complete back" who can do everything.
ESPN's Peter Schrager named Love a "wild card" for the Cardinals' No. 3 pick. He reports that at least one influential person in their front office is pushing for Notre Dame back.
The 2026 NFL Draft starts April 23 in Pittsburgh. If Love isn't taken third by Arizona, most experts expect him to go fourth to the Tennessee Titans.
While some think they will prioritize defense under coach Robert Saleh, the betting market suggests Love is likely to be the highest-drafted running back since Saquon Barkley went second in 2018.
Related: 2026 NFL Mock Draft: Final 4-Round Forecast
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This story was originally published April 17, 2026 at 8:06 AM.