Should the Cowboys Draft Notre Dame Star Running Back if Available?
With the 2026 NFL Draft less than a month away and the Dallas Cowboys having two first-round picks, a pair of star players can potentially make their way to Dallas. After a disappointing defensive performance last season, it would be reasonable to assume the Cowboys are focusing solely on their defense. However, despite significant issues on that side of the ball, the Cowboys have not ruled out selecting the best player available. The likelihood of him falling in the draft is low, but if Notre Dame standout Jeremiyah Love fell, it would be difficult for Dallas to overlook him.
Love, since he took over the bell cow role at Notre Dame, has been electric for the Fighting Irish. He has been projected as a top pick in the summer, and he proved it a year ago. Last season, he finished as a Heisman finalist after having 1,372 rushing yards, 18 touchdowns, and averaging over 114 rushing yards per game. To say Love was an elite player in college is an understatement. In the combine, Love continued to show why he is projected by many to be a high first-round draft pick. He ran a 4.36 40-yard dash, which was the second fastest among the running backs. Love is expected to go before the Cowboys' first pick of the draft, which is the 12th, but if he makes it there, the Cowboys are almost forced to take him.
It might sound crazy to draft a running back in the first round, especially after re-signing Javonte Williams and the Cowboys' negligence in the position in recent years. Still, Love is not an ordinary running back. It would be ignorant of the fire not to see the potential firepower Dallas could have on the offensive side of the football, and Brian Schottenheimer has acknowledged that. Pairing Williams with Love could create one of the strongest running back duos in the NFL. An elite run game, combined with a top-tier receiving corps, positions them as contenders for the best offense in the league, especially with Dak Prescott leading the charge. Obviously, the Cowboys would rather prioritize defense, and Love would have to fall to them at the Cowboys' pick in the first place, but if the stars align, Dallas would not hesitate to pull the trigger.
