The 2026 NFL Draft is nearly upon us, with the three-day event set to kick off on Thursday in Pittsburgh, Pa.
Below, I will provide a betting angle that you can take ahead of Thursday night’s first round targeting one of the top prospects on everyone's big board: Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love.
Jeremiyah Love NFL Draft Odds, Prop Pick
From 2016 to 2018, a halfback was taken inside the top-5 overall picks in three consecutive drafts: Ezekiel Elliott (4th overall), Leonard Fournette (4th) and Saquon Barkley (2nd).
Since then, teams have shied away from investing high draft picks on running backs. Since 2019, eight running backs have been selected in the first round of the NFL Draft — none of them went top-5, with Ashton Jeanty being the closest at 6th overall in the 2025 NFL Draft.
But in this year's draft, I expect Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love — one of the most talented RB prospects we've seen in quite some time — to crack the top five. Specifically, at No. 4 to the Tennessee Titans.
In his last two years in South Bend, Love went on an absolute tear, recording 2,497 rushing yards and 35 rushing touchdowns. He has breakout speed and unmatched explosive ability, evidenced by 94- and 98-yard rushing scores.
At the NFL Scouting Combine, the Notre Dame product impressed scouts by running a 40-yard dash of 4.36 seconds, which was the second-highest mark for a running back behind Arkansas' Mike Washington Jr.
Love also boasts impressive versatility out of the backfield, catching 55 passes for 517 receiving yards over his last two seasons.
As of late, the Titans’ backfield has lacked real consistency as Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears have struggled to make a sizable impact for a young Tennessee offense that's largely devoid of weapons.
Love would be a perfect addition for new head coach Robert Saleh, who could definitely use some offensive playmakers given that he is largely renowned for his defensive-coaching prowess.
Love is an elite pass-catching back, recording nearly 10-yards per reception for Notre Dame last season. The Fighting Irish tailback would be an extraordinary complement to quarterback Cam Ward.
The Titans made several moves this offseason to improve their defense, notably adding John Franklin-Myers and Jermaine Johnson to build up their defensive line. The offensive side of the ball should be their focus in the NFL Draft.
Love perfectly aligns with Tennessee’s rush-heavy offensive philosophy, and the sky is the limit when you pair an athlete of his caliber with Ward, who I expect to have a monster sophomore campaign.
On DraftKings, you can bet on the Titans to take Love for its fourth-overall draft selection at +145 odds.
Editor's Note: This line has since moved to -135 on DK. The best line is now on FanDuel at -105.
