For the first time since 2014, the Kansas City Chiefs had the slowest start to their season with a 0-2 record. After week 6, the signs of improvement and the team’s dynasty attitude seem to be back on track. They are now 3-3, the offense is finally clicking, and the defense held the Lions to just 17 points in Week 6. But there is still a chink in their armor. The running back woes continue to haunt them with trade speculation gathering heat, and the Chiefs can also solve this with next year’s draft pick.

There is still a lot of football left, and any permutations of picks can change. For now, ESPN made an early prediction that Kansas City can find a solution in a 20-year-old Missouri native. Jordan Reid stated in his forecast for the mock draft that the Chiefs, currently with their highest NFL draft pick in years, can select Jeremiyah Love.

Reid said, “Considering quarterback Patrick Mahomes is their leading rusher through six games (222 yards).” It’s because across the league, the QB is #31 in the league for rushing yards. Further, the Draft analyst stated that Mahomes’ stats are “not sustainable.” Simply because compared with 2024 across 16 games, the 3x Super Bowl MVP is just 85 yards short of his total of 307 rushing yards record. That’s why the idea of Jeremiyah Love being a fit for the Chiefs emerged.

“Love would give Kansas City a Jahmyr Gibbs-like player with his explosiveness, burst, and make-you-miss ability. Like Gibbs, Love can also provide creativity as a pass-catching option out of the backfield,” said the prediction from ESPN. Currently, the Chiefs’ 118.7 rushing yards per game ranks 14th-best in the league, but there is a caveat. Only 7.9 yards separate the Chiefs and the 18th-ranked Chicago Bears! That’s why Jeremiyah Love’s chances to be part of the Chiefs next season seem high.

In fact, the 20-year-old spent most of the spring working with ND’s receiver room to improve that aspect of his game. This season, Love has seen an increase in his rushing attempts from 10.2 per game in 2024 to 16.7 per game through Notre Dame’s first six games of 2025. Hybrid mix of top-end speed, agility, and explosiveness, making him a dangerous threat with the football at all times. In 4 of the games so far this season, Love has finished with more rushing yards in comparison with teammate Jadarian Price.

In his third year, the junior RB has already amassed over 2040 rushing yards on his resume. Before the draft of 2026, the 20-year-old’s reputation gets another stamp of approval.

Jeremiyah Love’s draft stock gains momentum

If Mahomes continues to lead the team as an RB, naturally, the offense’s game for the Chiefs will take a hit. Inconsistency from Pacheco and Hunt, plus no sign of seventh-round rookie Brashard Smith, has made it obvious that Kansas City is interested in shopping outside. As per consensus, Jeremiyah Love is the best RB in the 2026 draft class, making him a steal if the Chiefs could select him at No. 14 next April. Even on analyst Mel Kiper’s initial top-25 big board, Love found a top place.

He is No. 2 overall behind only Oregon quarterback Dante Moore. The Missouri native is potentially in his final year in a blue and gold uniform. So far, he has 530 rushing yards, 160 receiving yards, and 11 total touchdowns halfway through his junior season. “Love reminds me a lot of Reggie Bush,” Kiper wrote. “The 20-year-old has vision and burst between the tackles and to the outside, and he can break tackles with ease (29 forced missed tackles on the season). Once he gets into space, he can take it to the house with his breakaway speed, too.”

Concluding with why the Chiefs or any other NFL team will be ready to bet on the ND RB. “But Love isn’t only an outstanding runner. He is also a high-impact pass catcher. An NFL team will be able to flank him out wide and create a whole other dimension of the offense.” With a lot of time still left, a lot of variables can change. But if Jeremiyah Love continues to perform, then there will be more suitors for his ability.