Jeremiyah Love to Commanders, Ty Simpson to Steelers in Mel Kiper Jr., Field Yates' NFL Mock Draft

The Washington Commanders were projected to add Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love in the latest 2026 NFL mock draft from ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. and Field Yates.

Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson was also mocked to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

As Washington looks to bounce back from a 5-12 finish in 2025 and return to the NFC postseason picture, Kiper envisioned Love's fit with Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels.

"Put Jeremiyah Love with Jayden Daniels, wow," Kiper said (11:40 mark). "You talk about fear factor players, now you've got them big time. So I'm going to go here. Jeremiyah Love, running back out of Notre Dame, to the Washington Commanders at pick number seven."

Kiper also explained that the presence of new Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy could factor into the decision to draft a signal-caller such as Simpson.

"You think about the new head coach coming in, hand-picking his quarterback," Kiper said (35:20 mark). "Ty Simpson doesn't have the elite traits, we know that. But what he was doing prior to getting banged up was outstanding for Alabama. A lot of these quarterbacks have help around them. He didn't have help at the critical positions, o-line and running game."

"When you don't have a running game and you don't have an offensive line getting it done on a consistent basis and you're out there gutting it out through an injury, which he talked about why he said he lost some weight later in the year and struggled late in the year and had five fumbles lost," he added. "To me, Ty Simpson, when he was healthy he was carrying this football team."

Love finished No. 3 in Heisman Trophy voting for the 2025 season, rushing for 1,372 yards and 18 touchdowns while averaging 6.9 yards per carry.

As for Simpson, he completed 64.5 percent of his throws for 3,567 yards and 28 touchdowns compared to five interceptions.

Love was projected to be selected by the Kansas City Chiefs with the No. 9 overall pick in the latest mock draft from Bleacher Report's NFL Scouting Department, while Simpson went to the Los Angeles Rams with the No. 29 choice.

The first round of the 2026 NFL draft will begin on April 23.