Jeremiyah Love makes cryptic Steelers comment amidst Cleveland Browns links

The Browns are on the clock, at least in the court of public opinion, and one name keeps bouncing around like a fourth-quarter screen pass: Jeremiyah Love. Notre Dame’s star running back has become one of the most talked-about prospects tied to Cleveland’s No. 6 pick, and not just because of what he did in college. The bigger twist, which the fans are leaning forward a little closer to, is that Love grew up a Steelers fan.

So now the Browns are sitting in the middle of a draft conversation that feels equal parts football strategy and AFC North soap opera. Love is explosive, productive, and undeniably talented. But does taking a running back that high make sense for a team with bigger holes than a late-season secondary? That’s the real question.

The rumor mill picked up steam after reports suggested Cleveland could be considering Love with the sixth overall pick. On talent alone, it’s not hard to see why. Love built a strong résumé at Notre Dame, piling up 2,874 rushing yards and showing the kind of balance and power NFL scouts drool over.

The number that really jumps off the page is this: 65% of his rushing yards came after contact. That tells you he’s not just fast. It tells you he’s tough, slippery, and annoying for defenders in the worst possible way.

1. Love and the Steelers Connection Adds Real Drama

If this story needed any extra juice, Love delivered it himself. He admitted he grew up cheering for Pittsburgh, saying he was a big Ben Roethlisberger fan and that the Steelers were his team because his parents were Steelers fans too. “I was a big fan of, Ben Roethlisberger. I mean, the Steelers were, they were my team. I was kind of just born into it.” He even added that it would be great for his parents if he ended up in Pittsburgh. “My mom and dad are Steelers fans, so I mean it just kind of fell onto me.”

2. Why Love May Not Be the Right Pick for Cleveland

The Browns already invested in the running back room last year by drafting Quinshon Judkins in the second round and Dylan Sampson in the fourth. Judkins, in particular, showed real promise. But Cleveland’s offense still struggled, and the reasons were not hard to spot. The offensive line had issues. The quarterback’s play was inconsistent. Defenses crowded the box because they weren’t exactly losing sleep over what was happening downfield. Adding Love would give Cleveland another weapon, sure. But it might also be like buying premium tires for a car that still needs an engine check. Flashy? Absolutely. Logical? That’s where the debate begins. Analyst Pete Smith summed it up bluntly by calling Love a “terrific player, terrible choice” for Cleveland at No. 6. That sounds harsh, but the point is fair. Top-six picks are usually reserved for premium positions such as quarterback, offensive tackle, wide receiver, or cornerback. Those spots tend to shape the future of a franchise more directly than running back. And financially, the decision matters too. A top-six running back contract could run north of $35 million over four years. That’s a major investment for a position many teams now try to fill more economically.

3. What Love Would Bring to an NFL Offense

To be clear, none of this is a knock on Love as a prospect. He has the burst to create chunk plays, the contact balance to survive between the tackles, and the kind of natural movement that makes defenders miss in tight spaces. Even when elite defenses slowed him down in playoff games, his overall body of work still suggests he can be an impact NFL starter. But great running backs need help. That’s been proven over and over again. Even stars like Christian McCaffrey and Saquon Barkley look their best when the line in front of them gives them something to work with. A running back can erase some mistakes, but he can’t erase all of them. If blocking breaks down immediately, even elite talent can look ordinary. That’s the danger for Cleveland. If the Browns draft Love without fully fixing the infrastructure around him, they may end up wasting both the pick and the player’s early years. To Cleveland’s credit, the front office has taken steps to rebuild the line. The Browns signed Zion Johnson and Elgton Jenkins, and they traded for Tytus Howard. Those moves suggest they understand where the real issues are. Still, questions remain. Quarterback uncertainty hangs over the offense, especially with Shedeur Sanders still unproven. The receiving corps could use more help. And while the line additions are promising, one offseason doesn’t automatically turn a weakness into a strength. That’s why the smartest draft strategy may be the least glamorous one. Draft the tackle. Draft the receiver. Protect the quarterback. Build the offense the right way. Because if Cleveland ignores the foundation for the shiny new toy, it could become another case of trying to win the talent contest while losing the football game.

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