NFL Insider Casts Doubt on Jeremiyah Love’s Rookie of the Year Chances

After the Arizona Cardinals made Jeremiyah Love the third overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, many feel like he’s an early favorite to win Offensive Rookie of the Year. After all, running backs typically don’t have nearly as long a learning curve as some of their other peers.

While Love is not your average running back prospect, he’s also entering a pretty stacked backfield that also features two-time Pro Bowler James Conner and Tyler Allgeier, who recorded over 1,000 rushing yards as a rookie in 2022 and signed a $12.5 million contract with the Cardinals this offseason.

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Love is expected to claim the Cardinals’ starting running back job, but Conner and Allgeier will certainly still remain in the mix. Their presence could lead to a reduced impact from Love in his rookie season.

Sports Illustrated‘s Albert Breer is of the belief that Love’s reduced workload makes him an outside bet to win the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year award. Here was his response when asked which rookie would make the biggest impact as a rookie early on.

“The Cardinals figure to build their offense around him, the running back position translates quickly from college to pro, and he’s a really, really good player. But I’d temper that just a bit in that I’d bet Arizona will try not to overuse him, with James Conner and Tyler Allgeier also in that backfield.”

SI’s Albert Breer on Jeremiyah Love

While Love will likely be the featured back, he’ll have to share some of the workload, unless the Cardinals plan to either trade or cut Conner and/or Allgeier. Yet, parting with Allgeier is unlikely, considering he just signed his contract in March. With fewer carries to go around, it could be a year or two before Love becomes the superstar many envision.