The top of the 2026 NFL Draft board is coming into focus, but one major question mark remains: what will the Arizona Cardinals do with the coveted third overall selection? According to ESPN's premier insider Adam Schefter, the answer is clear—if they stay put.
The Insider's Revelation
Appearing on ESPN's Get Up, Schefter cut through the pre-draft speculation with a definitive claim. When asked directly if the Cardinals would select Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love with the third pick, Schefter responded, "I think if they stay there they will." This declaration provides the clearest picture yet of Arizona's draft room intentions, though Schefter immediately introduced a crucial caveat that changes everything.
"But the main question here is whether the Cardinals will actually stay at three," Schefter continued, highlighting the franchise's active efforts to trade down. According to his reporting, Arizona has made "exploratory calls" to gauge the market for their premium selection. However, interest from teams looking to move up appears tepid so far. "If they can't get out of three, Jeremiyah Love would seem to be the logical pick," Schefter summarized, framing Love as both the plan and the contingency.
The Prospect at the Center of the Storm
Jeremiyah Love isn't just any running back. The Notre Dame star is the consensus top offensive skill player in this draft class, fresh off a historic collegiate career. He powered the Fighting Irish to the national championship game in 2024 and closed his final season with ten consecutive victories. Over his last two years, Love was a statistical marvel, averaging a blistering 6.9 yards per carry while racking up 40 total touchdowns and nearly 3,000 yards from scrimmage.
While a running back at No. 3 might raise eyebrows in some quarters, Love's pedigree is undeniable. He wouldn't single-handedly transform the Cardinals' franchise like a blue-chip quarterback might, but he represents a massive infusion of elite, game-breaking talent for an offense in need of a centerpiece. As the draft nears, the buzz around top prospects is reaching a fever pitch, much like the rumors swirling in our report on Trade Winds Swirl: Kyle Pitts Deal Heats Up as Draft Nears.
The Draft's Established Top Two
Schefter's insight rests on a widely accepted draft foundation. The consensus across the league is that the Las Vegas Raiders will select quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the first overall pick, a move that would shatter a longstanding Indiana QB draft record. At No. 2, the New York Jets are expected to choose between defensive standouts David Bailey and Arvell Reese. This sets the stage for Arizona's pivotal decision at No. 3.
The Cardinals' front office now faces a classic draft dilemma: select the best player available on their board, or engineer a trade to accumulate more assets. With confirmed trade interest reportedly minimal, the path of least resistance—and perhaps the smartest football move—leads straight to Jeremiyah Love. This kind of high-stakes decision is what makes the draft so compelling, a sentiment echoed by insiders who are being urged to keep their final picks under wraps for maximum drama.
What It Means for the Cardinals
Drafting Love would give Arizona an immediate offensive focal point and one of the most dynamic players to enter the league in recent years. His combination of vision, power, and breakaway speed would energize a Cardinals offense looking for an identity. Furthermore, selecting a non-quarterback at No. 3 wouldn't preclude Arizona from addressing the sport's most important position later in the draft, where developmental prospects could be found.
The coming days will reveal whether the Cardinals heed Schefter's insight or shock the league with a last-minute trade. One thing is certain: all eyes in the football world are on that third pick. Will Arizona stand pat and secure a potential superstar, or will they deal the selection and rewrite the first round's script? The answer will send ripples through the entire draft, much like the strategic shifts we're seeing from other teams, such as the Cleveland Browns' clear plan to build around Shedeur Sanders.
As the clock ticks down to draft night, Adam Schefter has provided the league with its most credible clue yet. The Cardinals' intentions are on the table. Now, the waiting game begins.
