The New Orleans Saints are moving in the right direction as we near the end of the 2025 campaign.
After starting the season 1-8, the Saints have ripped off five wins in their last seven games and now have an opportunity to finish 7-10 with a win in Week 18.
The catalyst behind the Saints' late-season surge has been rookie quarterback Tyler Shough, who is looking the part of a franchise quarterback over his eight starts in the NFL.
Now, the Saints are tasked with building up the offense around him in 2026 and will almost certainly look to do that in the NFL draft in April.
In order to help Shough, College Football HQ's Nick Merriam predicted the Saints will draft Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love in the first round of the 2026 NFL draft.
Love is an absolute home-run threat out of the backfield with pro-ready passing-game ability. An important part of his game is the ability to line up as a receiver and run routes.
Such a selection would be the beginning of the end of franchise great and running back Alvin Kamara's time in New Orleans.
But it's time for the Saints to start planning for the future at the position, as Kamara is now 30 years old and hasn't quite looked like himself in recent years. He is also under contract for just one more season and is slated to hit free agency in 2027.
Love is easily the best running back in this year's class and has a chance to be a true difference-maker at the next level.
Not only is he an explosive and powerful runner, but Love is also an excellent pass-catcher and is even capable of lining up in the slot. His pass protection needs some work, but that's something he can improve at the next level.
Pairing Shough with a talent like Love will do wonders for the rookie signal-caller, who would have an elite playmaker to take pressure off and help open things up down the field with defenses having to worry about Love.
It has become taboo to take a running back this early in drafts in this day and age, but Love certainly warrants consideration in this spot and would make a ton of sense for a Saints team that has no bigger priority than helping Shough.
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