Cardinals HC Mike LaFleur Really, Really Wanted to Draft Jeremiyah Love

The predominant rumor entering the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft last Thursday was that the Arizona Cardinals wanted to trade out of the No. 3 overall pick.

Now that the draft is over, first-year Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur is free to confirm what was really happening inside the Cardinals’ war room.

“We were very much all on the same page throughout this entire building,” LaFleur said on “The Rich Eisen Show” on Tuesday. “Once we were on the clock, you’re always gonna keep it open initially. But, I’ll be honest with you, I was hoping nobody called, and I really didn’t care what the offer was because of how I feel about the guy that we got.”

The Cardinals stayed at No. 3 and drafted Jeremiyah Love, making the Heisman finalist the first running back selected in the top five since the New York Giants drafted Saquon Barkley second overall in 2018.

Love played three seasons at Notre Dame and was a bona fide star in the backfield for the last two.

In 2024, Love rushed for 1,125 yards and 17 touchdowns on 6.9 yards per carry, and that was only the preamble to his All-American 2025 campaign. Love carried the ball 199 times for 1,372 yards and 18 touchdowns - again, 6.9 yards per rush - plus 280 yards and three touchdowns as a receiver.

“I think we all see the talent,” LaFleur told Eisen. “He’s been very productive at Notre Dame for many years. What’s unique about this guy is he is a man. He walks in the room, and he has this really good mix of confidence but humility. He is who he is. I thought he had a great press conference on Friday, just kind of showing the Arizona Cardinals world who he is. Obviously, he’s had eyes on him for a long time, but I really appreciate the person even more than the player, and the player is pretty special.”

The Cardinals are desperately hoping Love’s otherworldly college career translates to the NFL, especially after Arizona spent the fourth overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft on generationally hyped Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., who has been inconsistent so far for the Cardinals.

A huge part of that, to be fair, is how unstable the Cardinals have been around Harrison Jr. The same is now true for Love, who joins a Cardinals team lacking a clear starting quarterback, among other things. Arizona is hoping that LaFleur and Love can end a four-year playoff drought in the desert.

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This story was originally published April 28, 2026 at 2:10 PM.