Cincinnati Bengals and New York Jets linked to top-10 offensive playmaker in 2026 NFL Draft(Image via Getty)
The Cincinnati Bengals suddenly entered the spotlight after hosting a top offensive prospect this week, and the focus quickly shifted to Jeremiyah Love. The visit immediately fueled fresh NFL trade rumors as teams monitored his rising draft stock.
At the same time, the New York Jets continue to hover in draft conversations as teams weigh aggressive moves near the top ten. As interest grows across the league, the noise around Love is no longer quiet.Now, the race appears to be tightening. With visits confirmed and draft positioning still flexible, both the Cincinnati Bengals and New York Jets look like real landing spots. If the board breaks a certain way, the chatter around Jeremiyah Love could quickly turn into a first-round surprise.
NFL Trade Rumors: Bengals host explosive Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love as draft buzz heats up
The biggest trigger came on April 7, when NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport reported the Bengals hosted Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love for a Top-30 visit. Rapoport shared the update on X, noting Love had already met with the Tennessee Titans and New York Giants before heading to Cincinnati. That sequence matters. It places the Bengals directly in the middle of the top-10 evaluation process.
The visit also raises an interesting question. Cincinnati owns the No.
10 pick and spent most of the offseason focused on defensive upgrades. However, bringing in Love suggests the front office is open to reshaping the offense. He scored 18 rushing touchdowns last season and showed burst, balance, and receiving ability. That skill set fits perfectly with Joe Burrow’s spread attack.More importantly, the Bengals do not usually host players they are not seriously considering. That detail strengthens the buzz around the Jeremiah Love trade.
If Love starts slipping past the top five, Cincinnati could either draft him at No. 10 or explore a modest trade up.
New York Jets also surface as a potential suitor amid trade chatter
The New York Jets connection comes with a twist. On April 10, The Athletic’s Zack Rosenblatt reported that the Jets’ meeting with Love could be a trade smokescreen. Writing for The Sporting News, Rosenblatt said the scenario “feels like the biggest smokescreen,” adding that the Jets “are not a running back away from contention.”The report suggests New York may be trying to bait teams into trading up for the No. 2 overall pick. With franchises like the Giants, Commanders and Titans all linked to Love, creating demand could push a team to move up.The Jets currently hold the second overall selection and face uncertainty at the top of the board. There is no clear quarterback option and no consensus blue-chip pick. Because of that, trading down becomes a realistic strategy.
Showing interest in Love helps make that possibility a reality.That angle keeps both teams connected to the same storyline. The Bengals hosted him. The Jets may be leveraging interest. Either way, the Jeremiah Love trade buzz continues to grow, and the talks involving the Cincinnati Bengals and New York Jets remain very much alive.
