Ignoring the Analytics: Why the Giants and Titans are All-In on a Top-5 Running Back

Read Time:3 Minute, 0 Second

The 2026 NFL Draft cycle is being defined by a polarizing question: Is it ever “smart” to take a running back in the top five?

For the New York Giants and Tennessee Titans, the answer appears to be a resounding “yes” if that back is Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love. Following a historic 2025 season where he racked up 1,652 yards from scrimmage and 21 touchdowns, Love has visited both teams in the last two weeks, solidifying his status as a blue-chip outlier.

The Fit: New York Giants

Under new head coach John Harbaugh, the Giants are looking to replicate the physical, run-heavy identity Harbaugh championed in Baltimore.

The Quarterback Connection: The Giants are entering Year 2 of the Jaxson Dart era. Dart showed flashes of brilliance in 2025 but suffered from a lack of a consistent “safety valve.” Love is arguably the best pass-protecting and receiving back in the class, meaning he can serve as both a literal shield for Dart and a lethal check-down option.
The Scheme: Harbaugh’s “power-shove” offense needs a back who can handle 20+ touches without breaking down. While Love shared carries at Notre Dame with Jadarian Price, his “fresh tires” (only 433 career carries) are a major selling point for a Giants team that wants a decade-long anchor.
The Synergy: Pairing Love with last year’s breakout rookie Cam Skattebo would give the Giants a “Thunder and Lightning” dynamic that could mask the offensive line’s lingering growing pains.

The Fit: Tennessee Titans

The Titans, picking at No. 4 overall, have a roster with several holes, but new head coach Robert Saleh has been vocal about “building a structure” for 2025’s No. 1 overall pick, Cam Ward.

The Quarterback Connection: Cam Ward is a high-variance, “Superman” style playmaker. Saleh’s goal is to prevent Ward from having to carry the team on every snap. By adding Love, the Titans provide Ward with a home-run threat that forces safeties out of the box, opening up the deep passing lanes Ward thrives in.
The Scheme: Saleh and GM Mike Borgonzi have compared Love’s versatility to Jahmyr Gibbs. In a division with high-octane offenses like the Texans, the Titans need a “game-changer” who can score from 80 yards out on any given touch.
The Rationale: Tennessee struggled with one of the league’s least efficient rushing attacks last year. Love’s 6.9 yards per carry at Notre Dame suggests he can instantly fix their efficiency issues.

The “Running Back Value” Debate

In an era where “positional value” usually dictates that quarterbacks, edge rushers, and tackles go early, Love is a statistical anomaly.

Elite Company: Draft analysts like Matt Miller and Daniel Jeremiah have graded Love higher than Christian McCaffrey and Ezekiel Elliott coming out of college. He is being viewed not just as a “runner,” but as a top-10 overall offensive weapon.
The Financial Risk: Taking Love in the top five would likely make him one of the five highest-paid RBs in the league before he takes a snap. However, with the 2026 class being viewed as “thin” on elite tackle and edge talent, teams are pivoting toward “sure-thing” playmakers rather than “high-upside” projects at more valuable positions.

The Verdict

If the Titans pass on him at No. 4, it is becoming increasingly difficult to see him falling past the Giants at No. 5. In a league desperate for explosive plays, Jeremiyah Love has become the rare prospect who makes scouts forget the “don’t draft RBs early” rulebook.