Jeremiyah Love’s fit with Chiefs is so perfect it’s almost unfair

The Kansas City Chiefs have had flashes of quality running back play in the Patrick Mahomes era. There were the 10 games with Kareem Hunt in 2018, Damien Williams in 2019, and Clyde Edwards-Helaire, who had some flashes before injuries took their toll on him. Outside of that, Mahomes has carried a very lackluster ground game through the dynasty. Do the Chiefs finally look at teams like the Lions, Rams, Packers, and Bills and see what the ground game does for their offense?

It’s more than just running back, though. How long has it been since the Chiefs have had a skill player who strikes fear in their opponents? The 2022 version of Travis Kelce? Tyreek Hill circa 2021? While the Chiefs do have playmakers, all of them have limitations and roles that can be contained. No player just seems unstoppable.

For years, teams told themselves, “If we can stop Kelce and Hill, we can stop them,” and then they’d combine for 150 yards and two touchdowns by the third quarter. The Chiefs need a skill player who makes them right, even when not everything is perfect. Jeremiyah Love is the best skill player in the 2026 draft.

To keep track of the top players in the 2026 Draft for the Kansas City Chiefs, be sure to bookmark the Arrowhead Addict Big Board, a draft board specifically designed for the Chiefs’ needs.

NFL Draft Profile: Jeremiyah Love, Running Back, Notre Dame

Age: 20 (May 31st, 2005)

Height: 6-00 (listed)

Weight: 214 LBS. (listed)

Tape Exposure: Texas A&M (2025), Miami (2025), Indiana (2024)

Shades of: Reggie Bush

Jeremiyah Love Background

A St. Louis, Missouri, native, Love was a four-star recruit per 247 Sports. Love was also a successful track athlete, with a 100-meter dash personal best of 10.76 seconds, and won the Missouri Class 5 state title. He also competed in the long jump. Love committed to Notre Dame in 2022 and started as a true freshman in 2023.

In his sophomore and junior seasons, he posted over 3,000 scrimmage yards for the Fighting Irish and scored 40 touchdowns. Love was named a Heisman finalist in December 2025. Graded as Pro Football Focus’ top running back in the country, he ranks fourth in the nation in yards after contact and third in explosive runs with 39 (carries of 10 yards or more). Love is projected to be a top-end first-round pick and the consensus top back in the 2026 draft class.

Why Jeremiyah Love Fits the Chiefs

Game Changing Speed

Love possesses a top gear that few backs in the league have right now. His strides are smooth, and he reaches that speed with great acceleration. His background as a sprinter shows here, and he will be a strong tester at the combine if he tests. He reaches top gear as soon as he gets green grass in front of him—a true home-run threat at the running back position.

Vision

Love is excellent at reading what is in front of him while pacing his cuts. He has the ability and spatial awareness to read downfield while setting up blocks ahead of him. He is more than just a speed runner. He uses his acceleration to access run lanes that few can, and he uses his agility to get in and out of trouble frequently.

Diversity

Love is a plus in the passing game with more than just checkdowns and screens. He’s shown the ability to track the ball well and has above-average hands at the position. Additionally, he has run a 60–40 ratio of zone and gap schemes, making him scheme-diverse for any offense. His size and contact balance make him an option both outside and inside the tackles. With only 433 collegiate carries, he’s still poised to be a bell-cow at the NFL level.

Concerns for Jeremiyah Love with the Chiefs top pick

Frame

While Love is a fairly standard build for a back, he has a leaner frame, which could make him more susceptible to injury. His contact balance is above average; however, that might not translate at the next level, making him a below-average tackle breaker. He still has the speed and vision to be a good back, but if that contact balance doesn’t translate, it could limit his upside.

Pass protection

Not asked to do it much in the RPO-heavy passing game for Notre Dame, Love doesn’t always square up rushers and can fail to move his feet effectively to anchor against free rushers.

Effectiveness in pass game

With limited opportunities in pass protection and receiving, Love could be limited to early-down work only. He has the skill set to be a difference-maker even in that role, but that’s not ideal for a top-15 pick at running back. While he does catch the ball well, he has 63 college receptions.

Should the Chiefs draft another first round running back?

Jeremiyah Love is projected to be in the rarified air with other running back prospects such as Bijan Robinson, Ashton Jeanty, Saquon Barkley, and Jahmyr Gibbs. What’s notable about those names is the widely varied outcomes of their careers and the teams that drafted them.

Love has the explosive element to his game that, in the right landing spot, could allow him to become one of the best backs in the league. His ability to turn any touch into a big play is special, and his floor as a prospect remains relatively high because of what he can bring in the passing game and between the tackles with his power and vision.

Overall, Jeremiyah Love possesses the ability to be an every-down, game-changing back in the league. His combination of speed and elusiveness is special, and with growth in pass protection and development as a route runner, he possesses the traits to become one of the league’s best backs.

Draft Grade: Blue Chip (Top 10 pick)