Jeremiyah Love smashes Saquon Barkley’s $41.2 million record even before playing in the NFL

TL;DR

Jeremiyah Love has become the highest-paid running back in NFL history for guaranteed money, surpassing Saquon Barkley's $41.2 million record, even before playing a game.

Key points

Jeremiyah Love is the highest-paid running back in NFL history.
He surpassed Saquon Barkley's record of $41.2 million in guaranteed money.
Love was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Arizona CardinalsJeremiyah LoveSaquon Barkley

Photo by Lauren Leigh Bacho/Getty Images

Jeremiyah Love hasn’t taken a single NFL snap yet, but he’s already rewriting the financial record books at the running back position.

The Arizona Cardinals’ decision to take him early in the 2026 NFL Draft has instantly placed him in historic territory, not just as a prospect, but as the highest-paid running back ever in terms of guaranteed money.

And in doing so, Love has surpassed a mark that belonged to one of the league’s most established stars.

Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images

Jeremiyah Love sets new benchmark for RB contracts

As revealed in Ari Meirov’s latest update, Love’s rookie deal has already broken new ground.

“New Cardinals RB Jeremiyah Love will make $50.5M fully guaranteed on his rookie contract, the most fully guaranteed money ever given to a RB in NFL history,” Meirov wrote.

The number is staggering, especially for a rookie. But it reflects both his draft position and how the NFL’s rookie wage scale works for top picks, where contracts are fully guaranteed and tied directly to where a player is selected.

In Love’s case, being a top-three pick has translated into a four-year deal worth just over $50 million, with every dollar locked in before he even steps onto the field.