Could Jeremiyah Love Be the Answer in Kansas City? Why the Chiefs Might Go Running Back at No. 9
With the Super Bowl now behind us, the NFL offseason kicks into high gear - and all eyes are on the 2026 NFL Draft. One name climbing up boards at just the right time? Former Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love.
Love has had a bit of a rollercoaster ride when it comes to draft stock, but he’s entering the league at a moment that feels tailor-made for his skill set. He’s skipping his final year in South Bend, and while some scouts believed another season could’ve helped him refine his game, the timing might actually be spot-on. Love is currently graded as the top running back in this year’s class and is projected by many - including longtime draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. - to go inside the Top 10.
If that projection holds, it would mark the second straight year a running back cracks the Top 10 - a rare feat in today’s pass-heavy NFL. But Love isn’t your typical back, and the team most commonly linked to him? The Kansas City Chiefs.
Why the Chiefs Could Pull the Trigger at No. 9
Let’s start with the obvious: Kansas City is coming off its most disappointing season in the Patrick Mahomes era. For the first time since he took over as starter, the Chiefs missed the playoffs - a stunning fall for a team that’s been a fixture in late January football. Mahomes himself will be returning from an ACL tear in 2026, and while the defense clearly needs attention, the offense isn’t exactly humming either.
Yes, Isaiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt are still on the roster. But Pacheco hasn’t quite looked like the same explosive runner since suffering a leg injury in 2024, and Hunt, while still effective in passing situations, is more of a complementary piece than a featured weapon. The Chiefs need a dynamic, every-down back - someone who can keep defenses honest and take pressure off Mahomes as he works his way back from injury.
That’s where Love comes in.
Love’s Fit in the Chiefs’ Offense
What makes Jeremiyah Love such an intriguing prospect isn’t just his ability to run between the tackles - it’s his versatility. He’s the kind of back who can line up in the backfield on one play and split out into the slot the next.
That dual-threat capability is exactly what Kansas City’s offense thrives on. Think of how the Chiefs have historically used players like Jerick McKinnon or even Tyreek Hill in hybrid roles - Love has the potential to bring that same kind of flexibility, with the added bonus of being a true running back.
He’s a threat to break off big runs, sure, but he’s just as dangerous catching passes out of the backfield or mismatching linebackers in space. For an offense that’s lacked a consistent spark outside of Travis Kelce, Love could be the kind of weapon that re-energizes the Chiefs’ attack.
Not a Rebuild - A Reload
Let’s be clear: the Chiefs aren’t rebuilding. They missed the playoffs, yes, but this is still a team with Mahomes under center, Andy Reid on the sideline, and a front office that knows how to draft and develop. They’re not looking to tear it down - they’re looking to reload.
And adding a player like Jeremiyah Love at No. 9 would be a bold step toward doing just that. He’s the kind of impact player who could make life easier for Mahomes, open up the playbook, and bring back some of the unpredictability that’s defined Kansas City’s offense at its best.
Sure, the defense needs work - no argument there. But if the Chiefs want to get back to being the team nobody wants to face in January, they’ll need to put points on the board. And giving Mahomes a versatile weapon like Love might just be the smartest way to do that.