2026 NFL DraftBrian DabollNFL

2026 NFL Draft Preview: The Great Notre Dame Backfield Is Carrying the Load for This Year’s Running Backs

Photo of Scott Kacsmar Scott Kacsmar26/03/2026 - 08:30 am
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 28: Jeremiyah Love of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish participates in a drill during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 28, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
(Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

We started our 2026 NFL Draft previews this week with a look at quarterbacks where Fernando Mendoza is really carrying that position. Similar things can be said about the 2026 running backs as Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love is far and away considered the best prospect at his position in this draft class.

In fact, Love could be the highest-drafted running back since the Giants used the No. 2 pick in the 2018 draft on Saquon Barkley. Oddly enough, the second running back off the board could be Love’s teammate at Notre Dame, Jadarian Price.

But it’s not shaping up to be a deep class for backs where you can just wait until the fourth or fifth round and find someone capable of playing well. We know that does happen often in the NFL. Just last year, Jacory Croskey-Merritt (Commanders) and Kyle Monangai (Bears) were drafted in the seventh round and they finished fourth and fifth in rushing yards for the 2025 rookie class.

Pretty good early return on investment, and someone like Cam Skattebo was also a fourth-round pick by the Giants (105th overall). But that class was considered deeper than this 2026 group is.

With that said, there should be an intense debate over where Love should go after we’ve seen the pendulum swing back towards stressing the importance of the running back:

  • Look at the way Derrick Henry (Ravens) and Saquon Barkley (Eagles) have performed for their new teams since 2024.
  • The fact that Kenneth Walker (Seahawks, now Chiefs) broke the drought for running backs winning Super Bowl MVP, the first to do so since Terrell Davis (1997 Broncos).
  • The workhorse is slowly creeping back with Christian McCaffrey’s absurd number of touches in San Francisco and the way the Colts leaned on Jonathan Taylor.
  • Some recent high picks at the position like Bijan Robinson (No. 8) and Jahmyr Gibbs (No. 12) in 2023 have arguably elevated those offenses more than many other picks would have for those teams.

But really the only running back to consider taking high this year is Jeremiyah Love. I haven’t quite seen the fabled “best running prospect since Adrian Peterson” quote attached to Love’s name yet, but we have almost a month for that. The hype is there in other ways though.

Using the prospect rankings from NFL Mock Draft Database, we are going to look at the top five running backs this year, how their skills might translate to the NFL, and which team would be the best landing spot for them.

2026 NFL Draft - Running Backs (Notre Dame - Jeremiyah Love, Jadarian Price)

1. Jeremiyah Love (Notre Dame) – No. 4 Overall Prospect

With Jeremiyah Love, you’re talking about an elite speed back who didn’t need a ton of touches to be productive at Notre Dame. As the starter the last two years, he rushed for 1,125 and 1,372 yards despite never hitting 200 carries in either season, so there’s not a lot of tread on the tires going into the NFL. That’s the value of averaging 6.9 yards per carry both seasons.

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 28: Jeremiyah Love of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish participates in a drill during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 28, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
(Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

Love also scored 40 touchdowns in 2024-25, so he’s a drive finisher with big-play ability and receiving ability we didn’t see the full potential of since the Irish didn’t throw the ball a ton. But many believe Love can run receiver-like routes from the slot and stress defenses that way too. He had 63 catches for 594 yards at college with 6 touchdowns and 9.4 yards per catch.

Some running backs can be nightmares off the field, but Love seems like a very level-headed guy that a team would love to build around as a face of the franchise.

It certainly helps when he doesn’t turn 21 until May and you could realistically get a lot of prime years out of him. He also reportedly had just one fumble in college, so he protects the ball well.

Best Fit – Tennessee Titans (No. 4 Pick)

This one is such an interesting discussion that gets into positional value and the idea that Love may not be a traditional workhorse who can handle a workload the likes of CMC, Barkley, and Derrick Henry can handle. He might be more like Jahmyr Gibbs, who saw his speed complemented by the power of David Montgomery the last three years in Detroit. A shared responsibility.

Do you spend a super high pick on a back like that who needs someone else to get 150-plus touches too? That’s debatable. Then there are the rumors that the 2026 draft simply lacks elite blue-chip talents. Love is supposed to be one of those talents, and the only player you can be sure of where they’re getting drafted is quarterback Fernando Mendoza to the Raiders at No. 1.

But once you get past Mendoza, it quickly becomes a free-for-all for Love. Would the Jets (Breece Hall coming back) or Cardinals (Tyler Allgeier added to James Conner) seriously take Love at No. 2 or No. 3? Probably not. That’s where people expect the edge rushers to go this year.

But then you get to the Titans at No. 4 and it’s immediately a conversation because the top edge rushers are off the board, they’ve got Cam Ward at quarterback, and they have a new coaching staff led by Robert Saleh and offensive coordinator Brian Daboll.

Is Daboll big on workhorse backs? That’s hard to say. When he was in Buffalo, they were getting by with the likes of Devin Singletary in the backfield. What really made Josh Allen pop in 2020 was the addition of a No. 1 wideout like Stefon Diggs. Then when Daboll went to coach the Giants, he had a top back in Saquon Barkley, but the Giants still weren’t a winning team with Barkley all those years.

So, I don’t get the sense that Daboll, who comes from a Bill Belichick background in New England where a committee approach with specialized roles was often used, is big on having a workhorse. Besides, the Titans have Tony Pollard, who has rushed for 1,000 yards the last four years and is an aging speed back who also is in need of someone to spell him. He doesn’t complement Love’s style as well as Montgomery did for Gibbs in Detroit.

Foxborough, MA - October 8: New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick grimaces during the fourth quarter. The Patriots lost to the New Orleans Saints, 34-0.
(Photo by Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

There’s also the idea that if you really want to help Cam Ward get better in Year 2, you find him a better WR1 than Calvin Ridley. That would mean drafting a top wideout prospect like Ohio State’s Carnell Tate at No. 4. That could be another option for the Titans, who have a real tough decision to make here.

From another angle, adding an elite back who is closer to a sure thing at the NFL level than a prospect like Tate could still have an impact on the Titans this year. That’s still dependent on things like the offensive line and getting to play with leads, but if the Titans are going to turn it around quickly, adding Love could be a reason for that success.

I also kind of like the idea of the Giants getting Love at No. 5 with John Harbaugh coming to coach there. I don’t love that Matt Nagy (Chiefs) is the new offensive coordinator, but if the Giants wanted to make Love and Cam Skattebo their version of Gibbs and Montgomery for a team that’s going to have a more physical, running identity to keep Jaxson Dart upright, then that could work. Of course, Skattebo staying healthy and just using Tyrone Tracy in that role could also work and save a No. 5 overall pick.

But the longer Love is on the board, the more teams are going to be interesting fits for him. You could argue the Browns (No. 6) need him too since they don’t have any dynamic playmakers on offense, but they probably have other more pressing needs to take care of first. They also drafted Quinshon Judkins high in the second round last year.

Right now, the trendy pick for Love is Washington at No. 7, especially with the Saints (acquired Travis Etienne) and Chiefs (signed Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker) seemingly out of the Love market at No. 8 and No. 9 given their pickups in March.

If Love somehow slipped to the Bengals at No. 10, I know they need defense there, but that would be hard to pass up the opportunity for no matter how much you like Chase Brown. Love not going top 10 sounds unfathomable in this draft class given the lack of elite talents.

That’s why I think it ultimately comes down to No. 4 Titans vs. No. 7 Commanders for Love. There are reasons to like Love in Washington, which has a new offensive coordinator in David Blough, a former quarterback. Giving Jayden Daniels some stability in the backfield instead of relying on these random backs like “Bill” and Jeremy McNichols makes sense. A younger receiver to replace Austin Ekeler, who is old and injured.

However, due to the Laremy Tunsil trade with Houston last year, the Commanders only have two draft picks in the top 145 picks (No. 7 and No. 71). You take Love, then you’re not able to add much more help in this draft class. I think Daniels has also shown much more of an ability to put a team on his back successfully in the NFL than Cam Ward has, so he doesn’t necessarily need an elite talent in the backfield to win games.

I can still buy the pick of Love going to Washington, but I just think Tennessee makes a little more sense right now for a team that’s still trying to find itself after some rough years. Plus, when you consider the history of the Oilers/Titans franchise, you often think of running backs even before their quarterbacks when you’re talking about Earl Campbell, Eddie George, Chris Johnson, and Derrick Henry.

I’m not sold one bit that Carnell Tate is a Calvin Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald, Julio Jones, or Ja’Marr Chase type of prospect for the NFL. If he was, then that’d be the no-brainer pick for the Titans at No. 4. But with that much uncertainty, give me the safer dynamic playmaker in Love instead.

2. Jadarian Price (Notre Dame) – No. 49 Overall Prospect

Again, this is a ranking based on the current prospect rankings at NFL Mock Draft Database, which pulls from several sources. I don’t think there’s any real consensus on who the No. 2 back in this class is after Love, but one of the names that it can be is his Notre Dame teammate, Jadarian Price.

That would be unusual, but we’ve seen things of a similar nature as recent as last year when the Ohio State backfield produced the No. 36 (Quinshon Judkins – Browns) and No. 38 (TreVeyon Henderson – Patriots) picks.

With Price, you’re getting Love’s backup, and yet he still averaged 6.0 yards per carry and scored 24 touchdowns in three seasons despite the limited touches playing behind a top back in the nation.

Not matching Love’s athleticism isn’t a big knock in this class. It’s true for these other backs too. But you are getting a lesser athlete in Price, and he’s not as good of a pass catcher. That lack of third-down value could hurt his draft stock, so it wouldn’t be a shock if he fell to the third round or was the third or fourth running back to hear his name called in this draft.

But even after tearing his Achilles in 2022, Price returned and had a good finish to his college career, even scoring three kickoff return touchdowns on limited opportunities (the common theme in his career).

We’ll see who wants to give him a shot in the NFL.

Best Fit – Denver Broncos (No. 62)

Some have compared Price to former Denver back Javonte Williams, so here’s a chance to get a younger version of him late in the second round. The Broncos were able to draft R.J. Harvey last year around this spot, and we didn’t see a ton from him in a backfield that is also bringing J.K. Dobbins back after another injury.

Price could be a good fit for their rotation and a future replacement for Dobbins. I also think the Lions (No. 50) could be interested if they view Price as their David Montgomery replacement as Price could complement Jahmyr Gibbs the way he did Love at Notre Dame.

3. Mike Washington Jr. (Arkansas) – No. 65 Overall Prospect

Mike Washington Jr. is a big back (6’2”) who was well traveled in his five years in college with stints at Buffalo (2021-23), New Mexico State (2024), and ultimately finishing in Arkansas (2025) where he had a career-high 1,070 rushing yards and averaged 6.4 yards per carry.

Despite his size, Washington ran a faster 40 (4.33 seconds) than Jeremiyah Love did (4.36) this year. He is a monster in the open field and can run through defensive backs if he gets to the second level. He’s also shown some receiving ability but won’t be elite in that area ever. Could still use some polish on his pass protection and vision.

But he kept getting better throughout his college career and could be a nice fit in an offense that knows what it’s doing.

Best Fit – Seattle Seahawks (No. 64 Pick)

The Seahawks lost Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker to the Chiefs, so there is a hole there. They still have Zach Charbonnet and added Emanuel Wilson (Packers) in free agency, but Washington Jr. to close the second round would be a nice addition as you figure a committee approach will be used in 2026 for the defending champs.

Just a good athlete who can finish runs.

4. Jonah Coleman (Washington) – No. 91 Overall Prospect

Jonah Coleman split his time between Arizona (2022-23) and Washington (2024-25). He scored 27 touchdowns the last two seasons and averaged 5.5 yards per carry for his career, so he’s an effective runner despite not having the top-end speed like some of the other prospects mentioned above.

But Coleman was a team captain, has been lauded for his blocking, and he’s a good receiver who averaged 9.6 yards per catch in his career. I like the idea that he’s a “tackle slipper” more than a “tackle breaker” as he’s got a crafty style of running that helps him fight for extra yards.

Best Fit – Jacksonville Jaguars (No. 88 or No. 100 Pick)

If you’re drafting Coleman in the mid rounds, you’re not expecting him to be your lead back. He just needs to be part of the rotation, so I think he’s a good fit for the Jaguars, who lost Travis Etienne (Saints) and only have Bhayshul Tuten, LeQuint Allen Jr., and they added Chris Rodriguez Jr. from Washington.

The Jaguars have the last pick in the third round, so that could be a nice spot for adding someone like Coleman.

5. Emmett Johnson (Nebraska) – No. 112 Overall Prospect

With a name like Emmett Johnson, he practically sounds like he was born to be in the backfield (Emmitt Smith). He stayed four years at Nebraska and waited his turn to explode in 2025 with 1,451 yards and 12 rushing touchdowns. He averaged 5.4 yards per carry in his career, and he’s also one of the most prolific receivers in this class with 92 catches.

By playing at Nebraska last year, that means Johnson played with Dylan Raiola, the quarterback who has become infamous for his Single White Female-like emulation of Patrick Mahomes’ life, dressing like him, styling his hair like him, and even copying some of Mahomes’ on-field mannerisms. But that means Johnson can catch a checkdown and keep an offense on schedule with the best of this class.

Not a speed back but a good north-and-south runner you can rely on.

Best Fit – Dallas Cowboys (No. 112 Pick)

I can assure you it’s just a coincidence I matched the No. 112 overall prospect to the team (Dallas) holding the No. 112 pick at the moment. But I also think teams picking at the top of the fourth round like the Titans, Texans, and Broncos should draft Johnson if they don’t opt for a back earlier.

But Dallas would be a good fit for him too in backing up Javonte Williams, who hasn’t always been healthy in his career. Dallas has struggled at the position since giving up on Rico Dowdle and losing Tony Pollard a few years back. They haven’t spent a ton of resources on the position, but a fourth-round pick on a downhill runner wouldn’t be a bad idea at all.

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Photo of Scott Kacsmar Scott Kacsmar26/03/2026 - 08:30 am