Jeremiyah Love Landing Spot Revealed in New Mel Kiper 2026 NFL Mock Draft amid Rumors

ESPN NFL draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. is predicting Notre Dame's Jeremiyah Love to be the highest-drafted running back since 2018.

In his latest mock draft released Tuesday, Kiper predicted Love to go fourth overall to the Tennessee Titans, which would make him the earliest running back taken since the New York Giants selected Saquon Barkley second overall in 2018.

The following is a rundown of the projected top 10 picks in Kiper's newest mock:

1. Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
2. New York Jets: David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech
3. Arizona Cardinals: Arvell Reese, EDGE, Ohio State
4. Tennessee Titans: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
5. New York Giants: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
6. Cleveland Browns: Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
7. Washington Commanders: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
8. New Orleans Saints: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
9. Kansas City Chiefs: Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami
10. Cincinnati Bengals: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU

Love is widely regarded as one of the best all-around prospects in the draft, and NFL Network's Cameron Wolfe even reported earlier this month that executives from three different teams told him Love was the top player on their board:

As a result, Wolfe noted that he wouldn't be surprised if Love ends up being a top-10 pick.

Love has been linked to the Giants, who have the fifth overall pick, as ESPN's Jordan Raanan reported last month that there was talk about New York wanting to land a top running back in free agency or the draft.

The Giants did not sign a big-name free agent at the position, which suggests Love may be firmly on their radar.

Love has visited with the Giants, but he has had a visit with the Titans as well, which suggests the G-Men may have to leapfrog Tennessee to even have a shot at taking Love.

Last season, Love won the Doak Walker Award as the nation's top running back, and he was also a unanimous All-American by virtue of rushing for 1,372 yards and 18 touchdowns, while catching 27 passes for 280 yards and three scores as well.

Jeremiyah Love Spin TD 🌀

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Love wasn't a one-year wonder either, as he also had 1,362 yards from scrimmage and 19 total touchdowns in 2024.

The Titans have some talent at running back in Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears, the former of whom reached the 1,000-yard rushing mark for a fourth consecutive year last season.

However, neither of them bring the level of explosiveness to the table that Love does, and there is no doubt that having a home run hitter in the running game would be hugely beneficial to quarterback Cam Ward, who was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft.

That would also make life easier for new head coach Robert Saleh and new offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, so taking Love is something the Titans have to seriously consider.

Love went ninth overall to the Kansas City Chiefs in the BR NFL Scouting Department's latest mock, but with multiple teams inside the top 10 and even the top five rumored to be interested, Love may not actually last that long.