Saints Pivoting from Notre Dame Running Back Jeremiyah Love?

The New Orleans Saints' draft strategy could be different now than it was before Monday. The Saints have added Jacksonville Jaguars star running back Travis Etienne at the running back position.

With that, many believe that it means the team will not be interested in drafting Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love.

It's possible that the Saints will target the talented running back. Etienne's presence does not preclude the team from adding the elite ball carrier. The question is whether or not the team would be fully utilizing the No. 8 overall pick if Love is the choice.

The pick would not be catastrophic like the Falcons' decision to draft Michael Penix after allocating a massive contract to free agent quarterback Kirk Cousins. You can play two running backs at one time. It's more difficult to play two at the same time, like Penix and Cousins would be to play at once.

Nevertheless, other options become more viable with the need for a running back already addressed.

The Saints have significant needs at secondary targets for wide receiver and elsewhere, but one Saints writer suggests that the team could add a surprising player on defense.

Zach Pressnell of New Orleans Saints on SI contends that trending draft choice Sonny Styles could be the choice for the Saints at No. 8. The Ohio State linebacker has quickly moved up the draft charts with an explosive NFL combine performance.

The collection of athletic tests yielded elite results from Styles in which he was rated as a perfect 10.0 prospect athletically for not only linebacker, but cornerback and safety as well per his relative athletic score (RAS).

Styles would fit the mold of Jeremiyah Love for the Saints in the sense that he does not play a premium position. Despite his perceived lack of positional value, Styles would be a game changer for the Saints defense who is set to lose key contributors from its 2025 squad.

While linebacker is his primary position, he is athletic enough to play just about anywhere but defensive tackle on the defensive side. Styles was given around a 9.7 relative athletic score at defensive end or edge rusher with his only knock being that he weighs in at around 240 pounds. Conceivably, the Saints could bulk him up into an edge rusher if they really needed to, but his potential could immediately be realized at linebacker or safety in 2026.

Time will tell whether or not the team sees him as the primary option at No. 8, but he does provide an interesting wrinkle in the Saints' draft projections.