The Los Angeles Rams will have their hands full if Notre Dame star running back Jeremiyah Love becomes available at 13.
The Los Angeles Rams hold the No. 13 pick in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft. It will be the Rams' highest draft pick in a decade, and they could go a multitude of ways.
In many mock drafts, experts predict the Rams will likely go the wide receiver or offensive line route. It's a clear need for the team that will look to get over the hump in 2026 after back-to-back tough playoff losses.
As things stand, the Rams appear to be the best team in the league. Still, they have a long way to go, and the draft will likely only help their chances rather than hurt them.
A lot of crazy things have happened in the draft, but none would be crazier in this draft if Notre Dame star running back Jeremiyah Love, falls. He is projected to be a top-five pick; however, crazier things have happened.
It would be a major shock, but for the sake of this discussion, it’s worth entertaining. If Love is somehow available at 13, then the Rams will be at a philosophical crossroads.
The Case For Taking Love
Love is arguably the best player in the draft, talent-wise, but for the Rams, it's more complicated than that. Nonetheless, let's start with the positive. At 13, Love would be the best player available and by a wide margin.
Love finished his collegiate career with 3,476 yards from scrimmage, including 42 touchdowns, and a seven-yard per carry average.
Many experts view the All-American running back as a top-three talent in the draft, which is rare territory in most cases.
The offense would be taken up a notch as they'd have undoubtedly elite-level talent at the quarterback, wide reicver and running back rooms. His potential addition would push the Rams' offensive ceiling to a level Sean McVay could only dream of.
The bottom line, it is rare to get a blue-chip talent at 13, and that would be the case if Love is there.
The Case Against Taking Love
As for why the Rams shouldn't pull the trigger on Love if available, it's also quite simple: there's no need for him. Los Angeles already has a duo that they trust in Kyren Williams and Blake Corum. The Rams trust Williams as a complete back. As for Corum, he is still young and showed a ton of promise in the offense.
The biggest and most obvious one as to why Los Angeles should avoid Love is that pass-catching and protection for Matthew Stafford is far more important and dire.
Possibly selecting an offensive lineman, specifically a tackle, would do wonders for the present and future. Potentially selecting a wide receiver would also do wonders to pair alongside Puka Nacua for the next several years.
Selecting Love would also cause ripple effects. It would cause the Rams to potentially move on from Williams or even Corum. In short, the Rams would create a problem to solve a non-problem.
The Rams front office is arguably the best in all of football. If Love happens to be at 13, the Rams would likely trade down to collect more draft picks and select a player they need rather than the best player available.