- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,170,261
- Reaction score
- 59
NFL rookies come in with varying levels of pressure. Some have the pressure to make the roster as a late-round pick. Early draft picks have pressure to perform well.
Some have even more pressure to contribute and not mess up a good team.
Touchdown Wire's Josh Petry named the three rookies under the most pressure in 2026.
He named:
All three are first-round picks expected to be starters for teams expected to be title contenders in 2026.
One rookie not named but is also under pressure is Arizona Cardinals running back Jeremiyah Love.
He isn't under pressure because of the expectations to not mess up a competitive team, as the Cardinals are expected to be among the worst in the league.
His pressure comes from his draft status.
Selected third overall, he was the highest running back selected since Saquon Barkley was drafted second overall. Barkley was the Offensive Rookie of the Year for the New York Giants.
Many have criticized the Cardinals' selection of Love because of positional value.
He is already one of the highest-paid running backs in the NFL and hasn't even played a single NFL snap.
He needs to be great. Otherwise, there will be talk of being a bust and that the Cardinals shouldn't have drafted him third overall.
It is a different kind of pressure, but he is going to be under the microscope, just not for whether or not he makes or breaks the Cardinals' season, because he isn't the key to their success.
Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: Arizona Cardinals RB Jeremiyah Love under different pressure than 3 rookies
Continue reading...
Some have even more pressure to contribute and not mess up a good team.
Touchdown Wire's Josh Petry named the three rookies under the most pressure in 2026.
He named:
- Kansas City Chiefs CB Mansoor Delane
- Minnesota Viking DL Caleb Banks
- Chicago Bears S Dillon Thieneman
All three are first-round picks expected to be starters for teams expected to be title contenders in 2026.
One rookie not named but is also under pressure is Arizona Cardinals running back Jeremiyah Love.
He isn't under pressure because of the expectations to not mess up a competitive team, as the Cardinals are expected to be among the worst in the league.
His pressure comes from his draft status.
Selected third overall, he was the highest running back selected since Saquon Barkley was drafted second overall. Barkley was the Offensive Rookie of the Year for the New York Giants.
Many have criticized the Cardinals' selection of Love because of positional value.
He is already one of the highest-paid running backs in the NFL and hasn't even played a single NFL snap.
He needs to be great. Otherwise, there will be talk of being a bust and that the Cardinals shouldn't have drafted him third overall.
It is a different kind of pressure, but he is going to be under the microscope, just not for whether or not he makes or breaks the Cardinals' season, because he isn't the key to their success.
Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: Arizona Cardinals RB Jeremiyah Love under different pressure than 3 rookies
Continue reading...
