All offseason long, the consensus top running back in this year’s draft has been Notre Dame‘s Jeremiyah Love. The junior back put together his best season in South Bend, rushing for 1,372 yards and 18 touchdowns, while adding 280 yards through the air and three scores. For the majority of the buildup to this year’s NFL draft, it seemed as if the Kansas City Chiefs would take advantage of their highest draft position since selecting Patrick Mahomes to take Love. However, after scooping up Kenneth Walker on Monday, running back no longer seems like a necessity for Kansas City. With that, here are a few of the top suitors, now that the Chiefs are out.
New York Jets
Having the right draft capital is important to get one of the best talents in the draft. Team needs play a big factor as well. Right now, running back isn’t a need for New York. However, Breece Hall comes off the books at the end of next season. He is on the heels of a career-best year. There hasn’t been news of extension talks with the Iowa State product, and given that his name swirled around trade talks last offseason, it wouldn’t be outlandish to think it could happen again in the offseason.
The Jets have their own pick at second overall, along with Indianapolis‘ pick from the Sauce Gardner trade. Similarly, New York has its own second-round pick and has Dallas‘ selection from the Quinnen Williams deal. As for next year’s draft, the Jets have three first-round picks. If Love drops to a point that New York is comfortable with, they could move up if necessary, although 16th overall isn’t too late for the Notre Dame product to fall to.
Seattle Seahawks
Let’s be clear about one thing: Jeremiyah Love isn’t falling to the 32nd pick. So, a move is required for this partnership. However, how poetic would it be that the Chiefs, the team that was projected to draft Love, landed Super Bowl LX MVP Kenneth Walker, and Seattle’s consolation prize is this year’s best running back prospect?
In the playoffs, Zach Charbonnet suffered a torn ACL, and the timetable for his return is unclear. Behind him and Walker, the Seahawks are thin, with George Holani and Kenny McIntosh as the reserve options. Seattle was tied with the Jets for the 10th most yards in 2025. The dominant run game helped out Sam Darnold tremendously in year one in the Pacific Northwest, and it was what Seattle rode throughout most of the playoffs.
Jacksonville Jaguars
With news that Travis Etienne Jr. was headed to New Orleans, running back slides up the team’s needs list for the Jaguars. Now, Jacksonville has Bhayshul Tuten, who produced 307 yards in his debut campaign. While that isn’t bad for a rookie backup runner, they need a go-to playmaker.
The task for Jacksonville to land Love is a tough one, given that they dealt this year’s first-round pick to the Cleveland Browns as a part of the trade that helped them land Travis Hunter in last year’s draft. Jacksonville’s earliest pick is 56th overall, but they do possess three third-round selections. Those are supplemental pieces to make this deal possible, but they would have to sacrifice next year’s first to move up and select Love.
Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings finished in the bottom 10 in the NFL in rushing yards last season. Overall offensive inconsistency could be the leading factor for this. A power struggle between Jordan Mason and Aaron Jones Sr., following the latter’s return from injury, could factor in as well. Jones Sr. is 31 years old in an era where older running backs aren’t valued. As well, he averaged a career-worst yards per carry (4.2).
As for Mason, he basically repeated what he did in his final year in San Francisco: fill in for the lead back who went down with an injury. Both backs are under contract through the 2026 season. Mason would be the only one whom Minnesota could extend, but that’s dependent on a solid second year with the Vikings. Either way, Love is much more projectable for both this season and years to come, and given that Minnesota is drafting at 18th and trying to see if J.J. McCarthy is the long-term option, getting a top-tier weapon could be within the cards.
