NFL prospect Jeremiah Love called it a ‘special situation’ but the top 5 is uncertain

The NFL draft’s best prospect won’t be the No. 1 pick because that spot is reserved for quarterback Fernando Mendoza. But here’s a surprise: The most powerful, versatile and complete prospect, who is no secret to anyone, is not even guaranteed to be selected in the Top 5.

Jeremiah Love is that guy without the fact he’s i a guy most NFL scouts see as “special.”

But because he’s a running back, a position that has been downplayed by some NFL teams over the past few years, Love would be lucky to land in the Top 5 even in a system that doesn’t offer many can’t-miss prospects.

JEREMIAH Love is Special

“I think there’s a group of players that we really like,” Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi said. “But especially Jeremiah, I think he is a special player.

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“…Speed, he can do things out of the backfield as a receiver. But there’s also a bunch of guys on the edge there, who are really good, so I think we’re going to have some really good options there at the four.”

Borgonzi’s Titans held the No. 4 overall pick, but note that he didn’t say the guys on the edge were “special” enough to add with that pick. Kansas City Chiefs general manager Brett Veach said there really isn’t Myles Garrett or Will Anderson in the draft.

But, for now, the idea that Love is special is not unique.

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“Yeah, he’s special,” Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry said. “I think when you look at it, you think about the other, let’s say, two threats that the team has had.

“You know, obviously, Christian McCaffrey might be the poster child for that. Jahmyr Gibbs might be, kind of the next generation for that. Jeremiah has that many skills and abilities. He’s a very strong prospect.”

Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley celebrates a first down against Washington Commanders safety Will Harris (3) during the first half of an NFL football game, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025, in Landover, Maryland. (Nick Wass/AP)

Giants RB Room Looks Full

The New York Giants hold the No. 5 overall pick, and the No.

Could the team that traded future 2,000-yard rusher Saquon Barkley three years ago do something about appreciation in promoting a run like Love with the No. 5 picks?

Maybe, because he’s not the only running back in the eyes of Giants GM Joe Schoen.

“He’s an offensive weapon,” said Schoen, who also said he thinks his running back room is well stocked. “He’s not just a runner, he can play 3 down. You can isolate him. He can catch the ball.

“Definitely an offensive weapon.”

So we should all get it by now: Jeremiah Love is “special” because he runs a wide offense by running and catching the ball at a high level. And that ultimately makes the quarterback better.

But what is the cost? That’s the question NFL scouts are asking themselves as they set their draft boards.

Why take a non-major position player – quarterback, offensive tackle, edge rusher – with the top pick?

Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Jeremiah Love runs the ball against Southern California Trojans safety Kamari Ramsey during the game between the Southern California Trojans Southern California Trojans and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on Oct. 18, 2025 at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana. (Joseph Weiser/Icon Sportswire)

Running Back Renaissance Coming?

That’s a story that could hold Love back like no other defensive player could a few years ago when he gained 2,498 rushing yards, averaged 6.9 yards per rush, and scored 40 combined TDs.

Over the past few years, you see, NFL teams have decided running backs aren’t as important as they once were. They decided it was the first league and the runners lost value – as the veterans hitting free agency from 2020-2024 found out.

That’s why Barkley is the only running back selected in the Top 5 since 2018.

But an interesting thing started to happen maybe a few years ago as the cases went down and back. Defense forces have decided they don’t need to invest in assets to protect against runners. Instead they put defensive backs and a few linebackers on the field to stop the pass.

And here’s the good news for Love: As a counter to smart aleck defenses, offenses began to compete for the ball against units tasked with pass protection.

The pendulum swings back to add value to running backs, especially dual-threat running backs like McCaffrey, Gibbs, Bijan Robinson and De’Von Achane.

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So a two-pronged runner like Love can hope that his skills won’t decline as much in the future as they may have in the past few years. That’s why Love could enter the Top 5 of Thursday’s first round.

“Well, listen, look, all positions are not created equal,” Berry admitted, “but ultimately you’re looking for difference makers, like, top-level talent.”