Jeremiyah Love has been one of the most talked-about prospects tied to the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2026 mock drafts. Recently, Love also spoke highly of Patrick Mahomes, which only strengthened that belief across the Chiefdom. However, that dream scenario may not unfold so easily, as another team picking just ahead of Kansas City could step in and change everything.

“Jeremiyah Love, you have him winding up in New Orleans,” Rich Eisen said on his podcast. “So many people have just basically penciled him in, if not sharpened Love in for the Chiefs at nine. And I keep sitting here thinking, why would Kellen Moore pass on an offensive weapon like this guy at eight? And your thought is, He won’t.”

The New Orleans Saints hold the No. 8 overall selection in April, just ahead of Kansas City.

And soon after Eisen’s comments, ESPN draft analyst Matt Miller echoed that same view.

“They won’t,” he said. “You have Tyler Shough, who looks good as a rookie. And all the arguments people use for why Kansas City should draft Jeremiyah Love—those are the same reasons New Orleans should draft Jeremiyah Love.”

The black and gold saw encouraging signs from quarterback Tyler Shough in 2025, as the Louisville product showed signs that he could become their long-term answer under center. Because of that, New Orleans must now focus on surrounding Shough with reliable talent.

Under offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, the Saints are transitioning into a system that prioritizes explosive rush, where Jeremiyah Love leads nearly every other 2026 prospect. His Notre Dame stint was defined by efficiency that will help the Saints create a vertical threat from the backfield.

Furthermore, the Saints have one of the league’s most promising young offensive lines. Rookie left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. finished 2025 with an elite 76.2 run-blocking grade. By pairing Love with Banks and the emerging Tyler Shough, Moore can replicate the balanced attack he once orchestrated in Dallas.

Meanwhile, Alvin Kamara once stood among the league’s elite backs; he no longer handles a full workload at this stage of his career. Therefore, adding a dynamic runner becomes more than a luxury. It becomes a priority.

While Kamara still fits within the offense, Love offers the type of burst and volume that once defined the Saints at their peak. He could shoulder most of the carries while keeping the explosiveness that Kamara once delivered every week.

Also, Love’s public admiration for Mahomes keeps the Chiefs’ storyline alive.

Jeremiyah Love wants to play with Patrick Mahomes

As the Chiefs continue to circle Jeremiyah Love in draft chatter, he addressed the buzz on The Rich Eisen Show and did not hide his excitement about a possible fit in the city of fountains.

“Yes, yes, I would be,” Love said. “Especially playing with Patrick Mahomes.”

He then explained why the idea means so much, pointing to Mahomes’ resume featuring three Super Bowl titles and two NFL MVP awards in eight seasons as a starter.

“I feel like he’s the best quarterback as of right now,” Love said. “Best in the league. I feel like he’s top one, so it would be an honor to play with him.”

At the same time, the timing adds another layer. The Chiefs finished 6-11, their first losing season under Andy Reid. Their playoff hopes were crushed when Mahomes tore his ACL in a Week 15 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.

Meanwhile, Mahomes targets a Week 1 return, yet Kansas City could lean harder on the ground game to protect him. With Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt both heading toward free agency, the Chiefs might consider Love at No. 9. Notably, 2025 marked Love’s most productive season to date.

In 12 games, he piled up 1,372 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns, while adding 27 catches for 280 yards and three more scores. After finishing third in Heisman Trophy voting and earning unanimous All-American honors, he now prepares for the next step. If the Chiefs call his name at Arrowhead Stadium, the St. Louis native would stay close to home.

“I’d be close to home,” Love noted when discussing the Chiefs as a landing spot.

The reason Kansas City is so desperate for Love is because of a devastating 2025 season. Last year, the Chiefs’ backfield struggled terribly, ranking 25th in rushing yards per game (106.6) and finishing with the fewest broken tackles in the NFL (14). Isiah Pacheco, who was supposed to be the leader, averaged only 3.9 yards per carry and saw his explosive run rate dip after returning from injury.

At the moment, the real question now centers on whether Chiefdom even gets the chance, because his rising stock suggests he may not last until the ninth pick.