The San Francisco 49ers were fully aware the Arizona Cardinals would have a top shot at a blue-chip prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft once the regular season concluded.
The NFC West basement-dwellers owned the No. 3 overall pick, meaning they'd have their choice at anyone not named quarterback Fernando Mendoza or whoever the No. 2-picking New York Jets selected between Texas Tech edge David Bailey or Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese.
So, when they were officially on the clock after New York chose Bailey, the Cards ended up selecting Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love despite speculation of a trade-down.
And the Niners have to hope he takes a similar path to another former Arizona high-profile draftee in the not-too-distant past.
49ers hope Jeremiyah Love goes bust for the Cardinals like Marvin Harrison Jr.
Back in 2024, the Cardinals used the No. 4 overall pick on Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., stoking memories of how another legendary Arizona wideout, Larry Fitzgerald, regularly torched San Francisco twice a season year after year.
To date, though, Harrison hasn't come close to living up to his pedigree and pre-draft hype. While his combined 1,493 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns over 29 games isn't bad by any means, the production certainly hasn't justified a top-five selection.
In short, Harrison is much closer to a "bust" moniker than a cornerstone piece.
Granted, parting ways with quarterback Kyler Murray and bringing aboard head coach Mike LaFleur can change all that for the third-year pro, yet now the 49ers have to wonder if Love winds up being yet another key building block for a division rival that has failed to be part of an otherwise hotly contested NFC West between the Niners, Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks.
From all three rivals' vantage points, they'd all prefer if the Cardinals' top pick simply doesn't pan out anywhere close to expectations.
Add us as a preferred source on Google