For all the Sonny Styles and Caleb Downs truthers out there, the New York Giants are still seriously considering drafting Jeremiyah Love with the fifth overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. How can you not? Love is the type of player who would transcend this offense in a multitude of ways from Day 1.
The only thing that has Giants fans worried about taking the 20-year-old is what happened the last time they took a running back in the top five. But while addressing the media in his final pre-draft presser, Joe Schoen revealed that Big Blue see Love as more of an "offensive weapon" than an RB.
""He's an offensive weapon. He's not just a running back. He can play on third down, you can split him out. He can catch the ball.""Joe Schoen
Frankly, Schoen's assessment is dead-on. In his final season at Notre Dame, the Heisman Trophy finalist averaged over 10 yards per reception in addition to his 1,372 rushing yards and 18 scores, which may be the reason the Giants pass on those defensive game-changers for an immediate impact offensive playmaker despite the Saquon Barkley flashbacks it may trigger.
The NY Giants have plans for Jeremiyah Love if/when they draft him
Running backs like Love are becoming all the rage in the modern NFL. Not players who command over 300 carries in a season. Players who command over 300 touches. A running back who can catch 60-70 passes out of the backfield while still doing damage in the ground game is way more valuable.
We see it all across the NFL nowadays. You have guys like Bijan Robinson, Jahmyr Gibbs, and De'Von Achane setting the new archetype for what a modern RB will be asked to do. And then you have guys like Barkley and Christian McCaffrey who are capable of being an offensive centerpiece, which is why the RB market is on the precipice of going through a major reset.
The reigning Doak Walker Award winner has all the makings of an every-down back in the NFL, so even though Big Blue has both Cam Skattebo and Tyrone Tracy Jr., they do not have a RB with Love's skillset, who has the upside to be among the best RBs in football in the near future.
While the G-Men need to add weapons to take pressure off of Jaxson Dart after losing Wan'Dale Robinson, someone like Isaiah Likely or Carnell Tate can fill the role of his safety valve until Malik Nabers returns. However, Greg Roman and John Harbaugh will milk the Love pick for all its worth, both because of his versatility as a runner and receiver.
Harbaugh has always believed in drafting the best player available, so even though RB is a luxury pick, Love is likely the highest-rated player on New York's draft board. And Schoen's words make it clear that the Giants have plans for him if he's still available and his name is on the card they turn in.
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