Jeremiyah Love contract: How Cardinals first-round pick set record for most guaranteed money for rookie RB
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Jeremiyah Love contract: How Cardinals first-round pick set record for most guaranteed money for rookie RB originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Jeremiyah Love made history in more ways than one when he heard his name called in the 2026 NFL Draft.
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The Notre Dame product became one of just five tailbacks to be selected inside the top-5 since the turn of the century when he was taken by the Cardinals with the third overall pick.
That draft slot brings certain expectations. It also brings a gleaming paycheck, one that will put him in the upper echelon of players at his position.
With that, here's what you need to know about Love's contract, one that figures to reset the running back market in 2026 and beyond.
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Jeremiyah Love contract details
- Years: Four
- Contract value: $52.5 million
Love hasn't yet signed his contract. Assuming he does, however, he'll command a record-breaking fee compared to his positional peers.
Love will take home upwards of $50 million over the course of his contract. He will take home the whole of that figure, making him the highest-paid tailback in NFL history in terms of guaranteed money.
Love's contract sees him surpass a host of gifted runners, including Saquon Barkley ($36 million), James Cook ($28.82 million), Derrick Henry ($24 million) and Christian McCaffrey ($24 million). Love's deal also dwarfs the contract Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty -- a fellow top-10 pick -- took home in 2025.
The figures of Love's contract also make him the highest-paid running back in the league in terms of total cash. He is slated to be the seventh highest-paid running back in the league in terms of average annual value (AAV) in 2026, only bested by Barkley, McCaffrey, Henry, Kenneth Walker III, Breece Hall and Jonathan Taylor.
Love's draft slot puts him in rarefied air among RB earners. He'll look to live up to his top-tier billing with immediate production for the Cardinals.
MORE 2026 NFL MOCK DRAFTS:
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- NFL player comparisons for Round 1 picks
- Expert mock drafts from Mel Kiper Jr. and more
Highest-paid running backs in 2026
Here's a look at the highest-paid running backs in terms of average annual value.
RankPlayerAAVTeam1Saquon Barkley$20.6 millionEagles2Christian McCaffrey$19 million49ers3Derrick Henry$15 millionRavens4Kenneth Walker III$14.35 millionChiefs5Breece Hall$14.293 millionJets6Jonathan Taylor$14 millionColts7Jeremiyah Love$12.6 millionCardinals8Alvin Kamara$12.25 millionSaints9Travis Etienne$12 millionJaguarsJosh Jacobs$12 millionPackers