The Pittsburgh Steelers don’t have an apparent need at running back, but things change quickly in the NFL. Kenneth Gainwell, who was the team’s MVP in 2025, is set to become a free agent, and it remains to be seen how the new coaching staff values him. Jaylen Warren has proven to be a productive player, but he’ll turn 28 during the 2026 season, and he has yet to rush for 1,000 yards in a single season.
The status of Kaleb Johnson is still up in the air as the previous coaching staff buried him in the doghouse. But Mike McCarthy might see a player like Jeremiyah Love and believe he could be the key to unlocking the offense. So, without further ado, here is our scouting report on the former Notre Dame star running back:
Jeremiyah Love 2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report
Height: 6002
Weight: 214
Expected 40 Yard Dash Time: 4.36-4.40
Recruiting: 4-star recruit, 96th ranked prospect, No. 5 ranked RB in 2023 class
College Production: 41 games, 2,882 rushing yards, 594 receiving yards, 42 total touchdowns.
Positives:
- NFL-size who could easily gain 10+ pounds, if needed.
- Elite speed (should run in the 4.3s) and is almost never caught from behind. Homerun hitter.
- Refined receiver who has over 50 career receptions. Natural hands.
- Gap-scheme runner who sets up blocks well and explodes through holes.
- Does not fumble. Zero career fumbles.
- Can hurdle too much, but does have an excellent feel when it comes to timing jumps and causing defenders to miss.
Love is a very well-rounded running back who has very few defined flaws. Teams are searching for a three-down back that can handle all of the work needed to be a No. 1 running back. He’s not quite Jahmyr Gibbs as a home-run hitter, but he isn’t far off either.
Negatives:
- Not the most fluid running back horizontally. More of a north-south runner who could do a better job of avoiding collisions.
- Wants to hit too many homeruns and that can cause him to bounce runs outside and lose yardage.
- Not overly powerful and has just average leg drive. Might be wise to pair him with short-yardage specialist in the NFL.
- He’s a good receiver, but his route-running skills are still developing. At his best on swing routes and check-down routes, where he can use athleticism.
- Still improving as a pass blocker. Ducks head too often which could be an issue at the next level.
There aren’t a lot of big flaws in Love’s game, but he’s not a dynamic inside runner. Teams searching for physical backs who can move piles might not value Love as much as other franchises. He relies a ton on his athleticism to get him by and still needs to work on the finer elements of his game, so there could be a rough transition early in his career.
Jeremiyah Love NFL Player Comparison: Breece Hall, RB, New York Jets
There are some similarities to Jahmyr Gibbs, but that is too high of a comp for any running back coming out of college. Instead, we are going with Breece Hall, who is a do-it-all running back with outstanding speed. Like Love, Hall isn’t the best between-the-tackles runner, but his ability to create big plays as both a runner and receiver makes this a realistic comp.
Jeremiyah Love Fit With The Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers don’t have a need at running back, especially if Kenneth Gainwell returns in free agency. But there is no doubt that Love would fit in extremely well in Mike McCarthy’s offense. He’s incredible out of shotgun, and his big-play ability as a runner and a receiver could instantly make him a workhorse back. And with the Steelers always in win-now mode, Love would provide a significant upgrade over Jaylen Warren and Kaleb Johnson right away.
Jeremiyah Love NFL Draft Grade: Top-12 Pick
In a draft without top-end talent, Love sticks out like a sore thumb. He’s worthy of a top-12 selection, and his explosive playmaking ability is something every team would love to add to their roster. We can certainly debate about positional value and where you slot running backs in the draft, but Love is a worthy first-round pick and should be viewed in a similar tier to Ashton Jeanty a year ago.