Should the Saints select a running back in the first round of the draft?
It’s evident after week 18 that the New Orleans Saints need more offensive weapons. Injuries were a huge problem, but they are shorthanded even without them. This is why drafting Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love would make sense in round one. His explosiveness would give the Saints offense another dimension that they haven’t had in recent years.
Audric Estime had a 32-yard rush in the Saints week 17 victory against the Titans. This was the only 30+ yard rush by a Saints running back since Alvin Kamara on Christmas Day in 2020, over five years ago. They’ve lacked a dynamic threat capable of breaking off big plays for a while. It’s time to invest significant draft capital to fix the problem.
Love is widely regarded as RB1 in this draft class, even surpassing Ashton Jeanty’s grade last year for some. The true junior has spent all three years of his college career at Notre Dame. He ran for 1,372 yards and 18 touchdowns and was named a Heisman Trophy Finalist in 2025.
Love is known for his elite athleticism and explosiveness. He has home-run speed, running a 10.71 100-meter dash in high school. He consistently outpaces defenders, even if they have a superior angle. Despite this speed, his short-area quickness is arguably more impressive. It’s nearly impossible to tackle him in open space. Love has a full repertoire of moves, including a lightning quick juke, a rapid spin move, and a hesitation that keeps the defender guessing.
Love’s athleticism is evident from the moment the ball is snapped. He is patient at first, waiting for his blocks to set up, then he swiftly accelerates once he sees a gap. Love’s vision is impeccable; he can survey the entire field until he finds an open lane. His combination of burst and vision allows him to create huge plays regardless of any penetration by the defense.
It’s mesmerizing to watch Love’s footwork as he navigates through defenders. He’s insanely smooth and never gets off-balance. He’s always in control and never looks sped up by a defense. Even if he gets hit, his balance allows him to stay on his feet and bounce off the tackle.
The former Fighting Irish doesn’t skimp out in any aspect of his game. He’s a formidable blocker in pass protection and is a reliable option as a receiver. Love’s the perfect player for third downs; he’s not an indicator for the defense and does whatever the offense needs.
The biggest question around Love is his durability. Love has dealt with minor, nagging injuries in college and hasn’t had to be the sole lead back. He’s been able to split carries his entire career, which also means he doesn’t have tons of wear and tear, but creates concern if he has to be the primary option on a team. A role similar to Jahmyr Gibbs in Detroit, where he can be the change of pace back would be ideal, which the Saints can offer with Devin Neal.
Overall, Jeremiyah Love would be a fantastic option for the Saints in the draft. He would require significant capital, being a first round pick, but would be worth it. His explosiveness and big-play ability would give the Saints offense a dimension they haven’t had in years.