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Mel Kiper predicts the Tennessee Titans will select running back Jeremiyah Love with the fourth pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Kiper emphasizes the evolving role of running backs, highlighting Love's versatility as a key reason for the early selection.
ESPN's Mel Kiper no longer adheres to the philosophy that NFL teams should not select running backs in the first round of the NFL Draft, especially when a running back is as versatile as Notre Dame's Jeremiyah Love.
That is why Kiper's final mock draft of the 2026 NFL Draft cycle has the Tennessee Titans selecting Love with the fourth pick in the first round.
"That was a long, long, long time ago when I started that philosophy (about not selecting a running back in the first round) when I would present stats and people were yelling at me that makes no sense, but that was based on what was happening at that time," Kiper said on a conference call April 16.
Fast forward to today's NFL, and teams are using running backs in a variety of ways, making them more than just ball carriers, which is why Kiper has changed his tune. Not only is he fine with running backs going in the first round, but he believes Love, who had 1,372 yards on 199 carries and 18 touchdowns and 27 catches for 280 yards and three touchdowns in 2025 at Notre Dame, is valuable enough to take very early in the first round.
"These running backs now are so accomplished as receivers that they're much more than just a running back. Just the swing passes or the screen passes, is not Jeremiyah Love. You can put him in the slot, you can put him out wide," Kiper said. "You think about Bijan Robinson, Jahmyr Gibbs, Christian McCaffrey, all those backs are more than just a great running back. They are great receivers. They've been using these guys like that for a while now. Jeremiyah Love is much more than just a running back. He's a weapon, he's a fear factor player, and that's why I like him there."
With his combination of running and pass-catching abilities, Kiper believes Love would be an asset for quarterback in Ward's second season, and that is another reason Kiper believes he could end up in Tennessee.
Kiper believes Love's versatility as a receiver and running back makes him valuable enough to be selected early in the draft.
In the 2025 season, Jeremiyah Love had 1,372 rushing yards, 18 touchdowns, and 27 receptions for 280 yards and three touchdowns.
Kiper has shifted his stance to support selecting running backs in the first round, citing their expanded roles as versatile offensive weapons.
Kiper compares Love to Bijan Robinson, Jahmyr Gibbs, and Christian McCaffrey, noting their abilities as both runners and receivers.

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"Cam Ward showed mid- to late-season he can be a great quarterback in this league," Kiper said. "Obviously, he needs to get the ball out a little quicker; he needs to keep developing, which he will. He made some mistakes, all rookies do. He learned from his mistakes and got a lot better. So for me, Jeremiyah Love, a fear factor player, with Ward, a quarterback who is ascending hopefully to where he can be one of the better quarterbacks in the league, then it makes perfect sense."
Kiper expects the Titans to switch to defense for their second-round selection in the draft and pick UCF edge rusher Malachi Lawrence. Lawrence is among the top-rated edge rushers in the draft, along with Miami's Rueben Bain and Akheem Mesidor, and Texas Tech's David Bailey.
Lawrence, who is 6-foot-4, 253 pounds, did not receive the same level of attention as some others at his position because he played at UCF, but Kiper says he is in that mix.
"If he would have been at Miami or anywhere in the SEC, with his skill set, he would probably be anywhere in the top 10 to 15 picks," Kiper said. "He tested off the charts, has length as well. Really, for him, I think he could be in the late first (round). But the consensus when I talked to people was more early- to mid-second, so that's why he fell to Tennessee."
Reach Mike Organ at 615-259-8021 or on X @MikeOrganWriter.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: ESPN expert Mel Kiper explains two Titans picks in final NFL mock draft