The Cardinals may not have a ton of believers heading into the 2026 NFL season, but they do have one rookie who is already drawing serious attention.
Jeremiyah Love, Arizona’s first-round running back, has been tagged by ESPN analyst Jordan Reid as the early favorite in the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year race. Reid put Love at the top of his list with +550 odds, and his reasoning is simple: Love should matter both on the ground and in the passing game.
"1. Jeremiyah Love, RB, Arizona Cardinals (+550)," Reid projects. "Love will not only contribute as a rusher but also as a pass catcher, where he can routinely take advantage of mismatches."
That kind of versatility is exactly why the Cardinals are expected to lean on him heavily. The No. 3 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft is set for a major workload, and Arizona has plenty of reasons to keep feeding him the ball.
There is one wrinkle, though. Love is coming off an injury he suffered after a 73-yard preseason outing against the Las Vegas Raiders. Even with that concern, Reid still has him sitting in a strong spot before the season begins.
The race behind him is crowded, but Love is still the name to beat in Reid’s view. Seattle Seahawks rookie Jadarian Price, another first-round back from Notre Dame in 2025, is next at +650. Tennessee Titans receiver Carnell Tate is listed at +600, while San Francisco 49ers receiver De'Shaun Stribling checks in at +1,100.
Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza could also enter the conversation if he gets on the field early in the season, but for now, Reid’s board has Love sitting alone at the top.
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