New NFL Rumors on Jeremiyah Love's Landing Spot, Giants' Stance on Drafting RB amid Mock Predictions

Heading into the first draft with John Harbaugh as head coach, the New York Giants are still weighing their options at No. 5 overall with Jeremiyah Love among the players on their list if he's still available.

ESPN's Jordan Raanan cited multiple NFL sources, including some within the Giants organization, who are "working under the premise" that Love will be off the board before New York's pick comes up, but he is very much on the team's radar if the opportunity to select him presents itself:

"There have been whispers he could go third to the Arizona Cardinals, fourth to the Tennessee Titans or some club could trade up to grab the running back who averaged 6.9 yards per carry combined over the past two seasons. But Love is expected to at least be part of the conversation with the Giants at pick No. 5, regardless of who is still on the board. General manager Joe Schoen conceded earlier in the week this isn't a normal draft because of a lack of premium position players at the top. An argument could be made that the draft's best players are at traditional non-premium positions such as running back (Love), safety (Ohio State's Caleb Downs) and middle linebacker (Ohio State's Sonny Styles)."

B/R's NFL scouting department released a mock that does not have Love available to the Giants because he is projected to the Tennessee Titans at No. 4 overall.

As Raanan pointed out, this is an odd draft because after Fernando Mendoza presumably goes No. 1, Love is probably the next-best offensive player in this class despite not playing a premium position.

If Love does go No. 4 to the Titans, he will immediately become the highest-paid running back in the NFL when he signs his rookie deal. The rookie-scale contract for the fourth pick this year is $48.7 million over four years.

Travis Etienne and Kenneth Walker II are currently tied for the richest running back contract at $48 million.

Running back isn't necessarily a need for the Giants, at least depending on how Cam Skattebo's recovery from a dislocated ankle, tibia fracture and a ruptured deltoid ligament that ended his rookie season prematurely.

Skattebo has said he expects to be back at 100 percent prior to the start of OTAs in May. He had 617 yards from scrimmage and seven total touchdowns in eight games prior to the injury.

The Giants could also look for additional playmaker insurance with Malik Nabers recovering from a torn ACL. He has been careful not to put any timeline on his return to avoid put extra pressure on himself and his body.

No one would argue that Skattebo is more talented than Love, so the Giants could view the Notre Dame star as a player who can elevate the offense around Jaxson Dart going into next season.

Love finished third in Heisman voting last season. He finished tied for third in FBS with 18 rushing touchdowns and ranked eighth with 1,372 rushing yards in 12 games.