With the NFL season coming to a close on Sunday with Super Bowl LX, the focus has now turned to the offseason and the 2026 NFL Draf t. In Cynthia Frelund's latest 2026 mock draft for NFL.com, she has the Steelers taking Notre Dame star running back Jeremiyah Love at No. 21 overall.
"Love's potential impact in both the pass and run game is very high — like Bijan Robinson levels," Frelund wrote . "For him to have a successful rookie season (and one that looks something like Bijan's impressive 2025 campaign), he'll need a strong O-line that will allow him to adjust to NFL speed and concepts. Pittsburgh had my 10th-best OL this past season."
The Steelers have a slew of needs in the draft, and they're expected to have 12 picks. Running back doesn't really stand out as a major need, but it could be if team MVP Kenneth Gainwell leaves via free agency. Jaylen Warren , 27, is still under contract through 2027.
The Steelers were middle of the pack as an offensive unit in 2025. A wide receiver to pair with DK Metcalf seems like a more glaring need than a running back, but Love is one of the most explosive players in this year's draft.
Love was a highly productive running back at Notre Dame, with 2,497 yards rushing and 35 touchdowns in the last two seasons. NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein described Love as a versatile back in his scouting report . His comp for Love is Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs .
"Three-phase running back capable of stressing defenses with big-play speed and untapped pass-catching value. Love shared carries but was the heartbeat of Notre Dame's offense over the last two years. He runs with a fierce tempo and processes the front with adequate eyes to find entry points and burst through them," Zierlein wrote. "Urgency works in his favor, but he'll occasionally miss open lanes when he gets too deep too quickly. Outstanding speed erases pursuit angles to the corner and helps him pull away from tacklers once he opens his gait. He's live-legged with violent cuts in segmented bursts that can elude tacklers but slow his momentum. He's not a pile-mover but he runs through contact and squeezes out extra yards as a committed finisher. He's a talented route runner and pass catcher who can work from the slot and mismatch linebackers. Love is a three-down, scheme-independent player who would benefit from a complementary back to preserve his big-play ability."
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now : Steelers Land Star Notre Dame Running Back in Latest Mock Draft
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