What are reasonable expectations for Arizona Cardinals RB Jeremiyah Love?

The Arizona Cardinals made running back Jeremiyah Love the third overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft. There is a lot of excitement as to what he can do his rookie season.

Perhaps we should not expect too much, at least not monster numbers.

Why?

While Love was extremely productive in college, he comes into the NFL without a heavy workload. In 2025, he had 199 carries and 226 total touches.

The Cardinals have had only two rookie 1,000-yard rushers in their history. Ottis Anderson set the record with 1,605 yards in 1979 with 331 carries. Ronald Moore had 1,018 yards on 263 carries in 1993.

Would it be wise for the Cardinals to give Love that much of a workload in his first NFL season after never doing it in college?

By comparison, Bijan Robinson had 258 carries and 277 carries his final season in college. As a rookie, he had 272 total touches with 214 carries.

Saquon Barkley had as many as 300 touches at Penn State. He had 261 carries and 352 total touches in his first season, winning Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Going back to Adrian Peterson, he had as many as 344 touches at Oklahoma. He had 199 touches in only seven games in his final season. He had 238 carries and 257 touches as a rookie.

Robinson did not exceed his college workload as a rookie. Neither did Peterson. Barkley did, but he had over 70 more touches in college with his usage than Love in his greatest usage.

The Cardinals have Tyler Allgeier and James Conner, too.

Love will likely surpass 1,000 total yards from scrimmage, but getting 1,000 rushing yards might not be in the Cards for him.

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