Arizona Cardinals RB Tyler Allgeier one of draft's biggest losers

The Arizona Cardinals, Cardinals fans and the NFL in general are excited about the addition of running back Jeremiyah Love, selected third overall in the draft last week. However, there is one clear loser — new Cardinals running back Tyler Allgeier.

ESPN's Adam Schefter spoke about it on his podcast on Monday.

"Tyler Allgeier was in Atlanta and wanted a larger role and left Atlanta in free agency to go to Arizona, which paid him $7,000,000 for the upcoming season," Schefter said on his show. "He thought he was going to be the lead back there in Arizona, or at least get more work than he got in Atlanta, and he goes to Arizona, which he did not expect at the time would be the team that ultimately would pick Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love at No. 3, but that's exactly what happens."

The love from the organization for Love came well after Allgeier signed. Schefter said Cardinals coaches "loved Jeremiyah Love" and it is believed that owner Michael Bidwill was pushing for Love to be the pick, especially since the Cardinals are "an organization that needed a little bit of pizazz."

"And they went ahead and took him, I think to the surprise and disappointment of Tyler Allgeier, who chose that spot because he thought he would have a bigger opportunity that now, of course, will be shrinking much as it did in Atlanta behind Bijan Robinson."

Allgeier surely is disappointed in the change in role. He will accept it. He had a 1,000-yard rookie season and then the Falcons drafted Robinson. The difference this time is that he already got paid. The $7 million he will be paid this season surely will satisfy the financial goals. As a competitor, he surely isn't the happiest, but competition and production will lead to playing time. He will certainly have some sort of role behind Love, especially since Love didn't have more than 199 carries in a season in college. Allgeier and James Conner, whose role was already expected to be reduced, will find a way to be valuable to the team.

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