It's a tough road ahead for Jeremiyah Love. Without even taking a single snap in the NFL, experts consider him struggling heavily to live up to the standards set for him.
The Arizona Cardinals drafted Love third overall and signed him to a four-year, $53 million contract. Although Love comes eighth on the highest-paid NFL running backs list, his contract is the most lucrative extension signed by any running back in NFL history.
For example, Super Bowl winner Saquon Barkley earns roughly $20 million per year on his two-year, $41.2 million deal, of which only $36 million is guaranteed. Barkley must meet certain requirements to secure an additional $15 million (in incentives). Love's entire $53 million is guaranteed. Even if the Cardinals release Love before his contract expires, they still have to pay him the entire $53 million.
ESPN's Seth Walder views this as a negative for the Cardinals.
The biggest problem is [Jeremiyah] Love [for the Cardinals]. This is about the position, not the player. He's a great running back prospect, but running back is one of the least important positions on the field. This is one step up from taking a punter at No. 3 overall… You could have taken a tackle or an edge rusher or wide receiver — someone that's hard to find in free agency. Just a big missed opportunity for Arizona.
Walder saidArizona addressed the offensive line woes by selecting Texas A&M guard Chase Bisontis in the second round, 34th overall.
The Cardinals' other draft picks include 2025 CFP final appearance-maker, quarterback Carson Beck (Pick 34), defensive tackle Kaleb Proctor from Southeastern Louisiana (Pick 104), Texas Tech wide receiver Reggie Virgil (Pick 143), Iowa linebacker Karson Sharar (Pick 183), and Mississippi tackle Jayden Williams (Pick 217).
Former Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton never won a Super Bowl. However, he was a league MVP with multiple Pro Bowl appearances and earned a lot of money.
Winning a ring is every football player's ultimate goal, but Newton prefers his personal gains over losing out on winning the Super Bowl.
Love doesn't think like Newton. He is entering the NFL without setting a proper goal. His only objective is to be a productive player for the Cardinals.
I've learned throughout my time just playing football… That personal goals aren't going to get you really where you want to get to. It's all about the team at the end of the day. As long as you do your part on the team, usually you'll get the personal accolades and the personal goals that you have in your mind. So, in my mind, my goal for myself is to jell really well with this team and do whatever coach [Mike] LaFleur wants me to do, and do it to the best of my ability.
Jeremiyah Love said (H/T NFL.com)Love graduated from high school as a four-star athlete. He chose to represent the University of Notre Dame over other big schools. In three years with the Fighting Irish, Love accumulated 433 carries, 2882 yards, and 36 touchdowns. He further caught 63 passes for 594 yards and scored 6 TDs.
A chunk of his yards came during his final year. He rushed 199 times for 1372 yards and scored 18 touchdowns to go with 3 receiving TDs. Those numbers landed him among the final three for the Heisman Trophy (awarded to the best player in NCAA Division 1 football). Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza emerged as the winner.
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