The single most popular member of the 2026 NFL Draft class for Kansas City Chiefs fans is Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love. Chiefs Kingdom has drunk a literal Love potion this spring, as they should, considering how potent the cocktail can be when thinking of the overwhelming need for offensive help, the dearth of anything meaningful at the position, and the dynamism of the prospect.
The Chiefs possess the very rare top-ten draft choice in '26 after suffering a nine-game slide from the year before this last season. The Chiefs went from a 15-2 season in '24 to 6-11 in '25 and an early trip home for the postseason after playing meaningful football for each of the last 11 seasons. Now back at No. 9 overall in the draft order, K.C. has a real chance to grab a blue-chip talent.
Love makes sense as the biggest crush for Chiefs Kingdom. The top running back by a country mile in this draft is also one of the few true elite talents overall, regardless of position. But it's exactly that level of potential impact that is likely to have him off the board before the Chiefs are even on the clock.
NFL Draft analyst Todd McShay recently sat down with Kay Adams on her show, Up & Adams, for a talk about the recent Combine. McShay has Love as the best overall player in his draft rankings, "That’s weird for me, Kay, to have a running back first overall is the first time in 26 years," said McShay.
The conversation turned to Detroit Lions star running back Jahmyr Gibbs, who excels in the passing game, and McShay lit up even more about Love's talent after watching him catching passes at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis. Love ran a 4.36-second time in the 40-yard dash as well, which created an electricity around his draft stock. "I’m not saying he’s [like Jahmyr Gibbs] as a receiver yet, but to see the way he’s able to run routes and to see that 4.36 legit right there posted for us at his size. He’s special."
Chiefs Kingdom is enamored with the idea of adding Jeremiyah Love via the draft, but Todd McShay poured water on that dream.
Taken together, McShay has a hard time seeing Love even falling within range to the Chiefs, at least not without a very costly trade up the board for running back help.
"You look at the top of the draft, right? We all agree that Fernando Mendoza’s going to the Raiders. After that, I think it’s probably going to be an edge rusher to the Jets—maybe Sonny Styles gets into that mix. But then you look at Arizona at 3, Tennessee at 4, even the Giants at 5 with Skattebo coming off of that injury. I don’t think Jeremiyah Love gets out of the top five, and it wouldn’t shock me if he’s the third pick in this draft," said McShay.
That means the Chiefs are likely going to look elsewhere for help at the position, whether in free agency or the draft. Kenneth Walker Jr. and Travis Etienne are the favorites in the former, while prospects like Jonah Coleman or Jadarian Price are potential answers in the latter. Either way, those fans crossing their fingers for Love are likely to be drinking for a different reason—to drown their sorrows that their favorite rookie won't be available for their favorite team.