NFL draft grades: Mel Kiper dings Arizona Cardinals in one area
Mel Kiper graded the Arizona Cardinals' draft class. He liked almost all of it.
The 2026 NFL draft is over, and now the focus shifts to grades. Grades are reactions to players selected based on expectations, fit and other players on the board. What do people thing of what the Arizona Cardinals did in the draft?
ESPN's Mel Kiper gave them a 'B' . Kiper, a staunch opponent of drafting running backs in the first round, was just fine with the Cardinals taking a running back third overall. Love is not a running back in the classical sense.
He's a dynamic offensive playmaker who is going to spark an otherwise dull Arizona offense. He's a Reggie Bush clone with incredible vision and burst, and with 4. 36 speed, he can go the distance any time he touches the football.
Love averaged 6. 9 yards per carry last season, he hit nine 20-yard gains (tied for 10th in the FBS) and he forced 60 missed tackles (top 20). All of that puts him in the first round, but what takes him into another tier and makes him worthy of such a high selection is his ability in the passing game.