The top two picks of the 2026 NFL Draft are all but confirmed. Fernando Mendoza heads to Las Vegas at No. 1, and the New York Jets grab either David Bailey or Arvell Reese at No. 2. What happens next is where things get interesting. ESPN’s Adam Schefter believes Arizona will take Notre Dame running back Jeremiah Love at No. 3 — but only if they can’t find a trade partner first.
Will the Arizona Cardinals stay at No. 3 or move for future gains?
According to ESPN insider Adam Schefter, the Cardinals may already have their preferred option if they hold their ground. Speaking on television, he pointed to Jeremiah Love as the likely choice, while raising a larger question about whether the pick will even be used.“I think if they stay there they will (draft Love). But the main question here is whether the Cardinals will actually stay at three…” Schefter said.That hesitation is rooted in quiet activity behind the scenes. Schefter noted the team has made “exploratory calls” about moving down, though interest from other clubs appears limited. In a draft without many teams desperate to trade up, Arizona may have to make peace with staying put.“If they can’t get out of three, Jeremiah Love would seem to be the logical pick.”It is not a flashy move in a quarterback-driven league, but it is a practical one. Love enters the draft as the top offensive skill player available, coming off a dominant run at Notre Dame Fighting Irish football. His production stands out even in a class filled with talent. Over the past two seasons, he averaged 6.9 yards per carry, piled up nearly 3,000 yards from scrimmage, and found the end zone 40 times. He powered Notre Dame to a national title game appearance and closed the year on a ten-game surge.For Arizona, the appeal goes beyond numbers. Love offers immediate impact without forcing a rushed decision at quarterback. That patience may be part of a broader plan. NFL analyst Mike Florio recently suggested the franchise could be thinking a year ahead.“Maybe the overriding plan, if there is one, is to accept reality for 2026 and allow nature to take its course. The prize could be dibs on whoever the top quarterback is after the 2026 college football season,” Florio said.“The popular assumption is that it will be Arch Manning. As we’ve seen, however, the player who emerges as the consensus number one for the next year could be a player no one is even thinking about currently. It happened with Mendoza. It happened with Joe Burrow.”That longer view may explain the Cardinals’ calm approach. With limited expectations in the short term, they have room to build carefully. Whether they draft Love or move the pick, the decision at No. 3 could quietly shape a much bigger plan under coach Mike LaFleur.
