Expectations Must Be Tempered for Arizona Cardinals Jeremiyah Love in 2026

On this episode of Locked On Cardinals, Alex Clancy breaks down why Arizona Cardinals fans should pump the brakes on their expectations for rookie running back Jeremiyah Love’s 2026 rookie statistics. Alex Clancy compares Love’s upcoming role to those of other recent rookie running backs, explaining why Love won’t be the savior of the offense but will hopefully still become one of its most important pieces. He talks about the importance of offensive balance, touches on the likely distribution of carries between Love, James Conner, and Tyler Allgeier, and explains why goal-line situations may not always favor Love early on. The discussion also shifts to star receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. and why Alex Clancy is embracing high expectations for his sophomore campaign. The perfect storm of coaching, offensive scheme, and supporting skill position talent could help Harrison emerge as one of the league’s breakout wideouts—if he avoids drops and stays healthy. Later, Alex Clancy celebrates Budda Baker’s continued excellence as the veteran safety again lands on the NFL's Top 100 list, highlighting Baker’s leadership, consistency, and invaluable presence both on and off the field. The episode wraps up by circling back to how realistic expectations and offensive balance—with contributions from Harrison, Love, Trey McBride, and others—are the key to long-term success for the Cardinals. Whether you’re hyped for 2026 or cautiously optimistic, this episode offers deep analysis on roster construction, role development, and how Arizona can create a truly dynamic offense. Let's discuss.   Photo Credit: Patrick Breen - Imagn Images   Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. From the opening whistle to the final kick, Let There Be Goals on FanDuel. Visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started now. Odoo Great organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon.   Betterhelp This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp.Sign up and get 10% off at http://BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDON. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)     Find and follow Locked On Cardinals on your favorite podcast platforms:     Apple https://apple.co/3gzT6Pg Spotify https://spoti.fi/3wsOL7a Audacy https://bit.ly/3xdaqjU Stitcher https://bit.ly/3cFWffn Google https://buff.ly/2yH7WOl Megaphone https://bit.ly/2RUBlC5 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.