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NFL.com Analyst Keeps the Big Draft Dream Alive for Vikings
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- NFL.com Analyst Keeps the Big Draft Dream Alive for Vikings
Brad Penner
Back when the Minnesota Vikings had bottomed out in the 2025 campaign, sitting with a 4-8 record after a gruesome loss at the eventual Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks , running back Jeremiyah Love felt like an obvious choice for a purple team that would finish the 2025 regular season with a Top 10 pick incoming. Thereafter, Minnesota won five straight games, ruined the Love idea, and earned the 18th overall pick in the draft. Thanks to NFL.com's Charles Davis, though, the Love dream is back, if only in theory.
Charles Davis connected Minnesota to Love again, reviving the same draft lane that keeps popping up around pick No. 18.
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Davis posted a mock draft last week, connecting Minnesota to love at Pick No. 18 after a strange mock-draft tumble.
Love Back in Minnesota's Draft Range per Charles Davis
Could the dream remain alive?
Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love is brought down after a rushing attempt by Pittsburgh defenders during the first half on Nov. 15, 2025, at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Love fought through contact while carrying the ball as Notre Dame tested Pittsburgh's defense in a physical contest during the late-season matchup. Mandatory Credit: Michael Longo-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images,
Davis: Love to Vikings at No. 18
Davis picked Miami EDGE Akheem Mesidor for the Detroit Lions at Pick No. 17 and proceeded to Minnesota, where he theorized Love, the draft class's top tailback.
He wrote about Love to Minnesota , "Are teams undervaluing the running back position again ? The Vikings cannot pass on a top-three talent in this year's draft. Head coach Kevin O'Connell will find plenty of plays for him."
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Until Davis's mock, most have envisioned a cornerback, defensive tackle, or safety for the Vikings, who fired their general manager three and a half weeks ago.
A Dream Come True for Fans
The Vikings haven't employed a dynamic, game-breaking running back since Dalvin Cook , and his last prolific season occurred … five years ago. Since Cook slowed down in 2022 and eventually left in free agency, Minnesota has tossed and turned between men like Alexander Mattison , Aaron Jones , Jordan Mason , and Cam Akers . Jones, especially, has worked to some degree, but he's also over 30.
With Love — when he felt gettable for the Vikings at 4-8 — Minnesota would draft and instantly employ a bellcow RB1. He'd take pressure off J.J. McCarthy — who needs a lot of pressure taken off — and force O'Connell to run the football, a tendency that he doesn't seem to love as a former quarterback and playcaller.
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Love is basically this year's Ashton Jeanty or Bijan Robinson . Until Davis's mock draft, the dream felt dead. Maybe there is a chance for Love to tumble down the board on April 23rd.
Love's Bio and Scouting Report
Love has a 6'0″, 214-pound frame and 4.4 speed. In the last two years at Notre Dame, he's tabulated 2,497 rushing yards and 35 touchdowns, adding in 5 receiving paydirts to boot.
NFL draft analyst Jeremy Percy on Love : "Love is a big-play threat every time he touches the ball in the run game. He has good vision overall but occasionally lacks patience when running between the tackle and gets too eager to bounce the ball outside rather than wait for blocks to develop."
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"He also is not the quickest in short areas when cutting back in zone or making defenders miss in the hole. Once he breaks through the line, however, Love's weaknesses are very few and far between. He has elite long speed and has the potential to score anytime he sees the open field."
Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love reacts after a successful rushing play during the first half against Southern California on Oct. 18, 2025, at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana. Love celebrated the gain as the Fighting Irish offense pushed the pace against USC in a nationally prominent matchup. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images.
For now, Love is expected to fly off the board sometime between Pick Nos. 7 and 12 .
Percy added, "Love has a gliding running style and a good ability to read and leverage space while being elusive in the open field. He has very good contact balance and excels at keeping his feet when he is not hit squarely and picking up big chunks after contact."
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"Love is not the most powerful back who will consistently run through defenders and is not ultra effective on the goal line, but has enough power to finish off runs with attitude and fall forward consistently. He has excellent ball security and has fumbled only once on 450 touches in his college career."
Love … Loves the Vikings
Love said on The Paul Harrington Show earlier this month when asked about Minnesota possibly scooping him at No. 18, "I would be blessed to go there. Lot of great guys."
Of course, Love would probably say that about any team, but fans interpreted his message as a rubber stamp.
Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love breaks free on a long run for a touchdown during the fourth quarter on Nov. 1, 2025, at Alumni Stadium in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. Love sprinted downfield for a 94-yard scoring play as Notre Dame pulled away late against Boston College. Mandatory Credit: Edward Finan-Imagn Images.
The Vikings probably have to hope the Washington Commanders , New Orleans Saints , Kansas City Chiefs , and Cincinnati Bengals pass on Love in the draft to begin his plunge to No. 18.
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If Minnesota cannot draft Love, his teammate Jadarian Price , also a running back, would be a decent consolation prize in Round 2 or so.
Love will turn 21 in May. He's about as young as it gets for an NFL rookie.
