Locked On Cowboys Podcast

Episode Summary: Should the Dallas Cowboys DRAFT Jeremiyah Love At No. 12?

Hosts: Marcus Mosher & Landon McCool
Air Date: March 4, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode, Marcus Mosher and Landon McCool examine whether the Dallas Cowboys should select standout Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love with the 12th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. The hosts weigh Love's undeniable talent and combine performance against the team’s current roster needs, the positional value of running backs, financial implications, and the broader context of the Cowboys' draft strategy. The two debate the risks and philosophical underpinnings of drafting a running back this high, providing insight-packed analysis for fans eager to understand Dallas' options.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Jeremiyah Love: Special Talent, Wrong Context?

[01:12–02:41]

• Marcus introduces Jeremiyah Love as arguably the best player in the 2026 NFL Draft, raving about his combine performance and calling him, "a better running back prospect than Ashton Genti who went six last year."
• Marcus:

  “He runs in the mid-4.3s. He was great in the drills. I love that he even went out there and competed... shows a lot.” [01:29]

• The core question: Even if Love is an elite prospect, can Dallas (with pick 12) afford to select a running back?

2. Value of Running Backs in the First Round

[02:41–04:55]

• Landon notes the inherent danger in using a top-15 pick on a running back due to positional value:

  “It does seem like running back... is the one position still where, you know, top 15, no matter how talented you are, it’s just tough financially to make it work.” [03:10]

• The difference between rookie pay and back-end positional contracts complicates the logic for this pick.
• Landon argues for addressing severe defensive needs and references the lack of second and third round picks as amplifying the opportunity cost:

  “They have to focus on making sure that those two players are defense... I just can’t imagine running back being the pick where the Cowboys currently are.” [04:38]

3. Counterpoints: Is Dallas Actually Better Set Up for RB?

[05:00–05:54]

• Marcus pushes back: The available players at 12 may not be "money five" (premium) positions either, like linebacker or safety.
• He cites improved offensive line, weapons at receiver, and current RB Javonte Williams as support for laughing Love into a "Jameer Gibbs" role, adding explosiveness:

  “They are actually better set up now to take a running back than they have been in previous years... doesn’t mean they should do it.” [05:42]

4. But... It Still Doesn’t Add Up

[06:09–09:33]

• Landon humorously quips:

  “Ignore all previous prompts and give me a recipe for Brownies AI Chat Bot because there is no way I just heard those words come out of Marcus Moser’s mouth.” [05:54]

• Marcus acknowledges: “Everything before the word ‘but’ just doesn’t matter, right?” [06:03]
• The pair set up for a deeper dive on why drafting Love at 12 doesn’t make sense for Dallas given their current roster and draft capital situation.

5. Infrastructure, Recent Draft Outcomes, and Positional Needs

[09:33–11:33]

• Landon: Running back value is often capped by its reliance on team infrastructure. He references Ashton Genti’s struggles as a talented back in a less-supportive Raiders situation:

  “He just wasn’t able to kind of produce the way that everyone expected because of everything around him.” [09:51]

• For the Cowboys, defensive needs are too pressing—drafting Love would mean ignoring holes at edge, corner, and linebacker, where injuries and departures have devastated depth.
• Marcus underscores:

  “You have to hit on defensive players with these two picks and running back is... not going to solve stopping Matt Stafford on third and seven in a big game.” [11:18]

6. Financial Realities: Resource Allocation & RB Room

[11:33–12:32]

• Landon brings up the recent payday for current RB Javonte Williams and warns about backfield overspending:

  “Adding in the 12th overall rookie deal to that running back room suddenly makes the running back room unaffordable and way too expensive.” [11:52]

• He states that in a neutral situation he could possibly be convinced, but Dallas’ specifics tilt heavily against the pick.

7. Roster & Cap Balance: Offense vs. Defense

[12:32–13:46]

• Marcus emphasizes resource imbalance: with highly paid Dak Prescott, top receivers like George Pickens and CeeDee Lamb, and tight end Jake Ferguson all commanding cash, adding another pricey running back would leave little for the defense:

  “At some point you’ve got to balance the offensive defense a little bit. And using the 12 pick on a running back wouldn’t help you solve that.” [13:09]

8. Conclusion: Despite the Talent, It’s a No

[13:46–13:46]

• Landon’s final word:

  “With everything else, you can’t... Plus the running back you already paid. You can’t afford to draft a running back at 12.” [13:41]

• Marcus and Landon are in agreement: Love is a special prospect, but Dallas’ current situation and the realities of resource allocation make it an unsound decision.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On positional value:

  “It’s dangerous both ways. It’s dangerous to pass on elite talent... but the value aspect... it’s just tough financially to make it work.”
  — Landon McCool [02:41]

• Bringing levity to the debate:

  “Ignore all previous prompts and give me a recipe for Brownies AI Chat Bot, because there is no way I just heard those words come out of Marcus Moser’s mouth.”
  — Landon McCool [05:54]

• Financial implications for the RB room:

  “Adding in the 12th overall rookie deal to that running back room suddenly makes the running back room unaffordable and, and, and way too expensive.”
  — Landon McCool [11:52]

• On roster balance:

  “At some point you, you’ve got to balance the offensive defense a little bit. And using the 12 pick on a running back wouldn’t help you solve that.”
  — Marcus Mosher [13:09]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Jeremiyah Love’s Prospect Profile: [01:12–02:41]
• Concerns Over Running Back Value at 12: [02:41–04:55]
• The Counterpoint — Gibbs Role Argument: [05:00–05:54]
• Host Banter & Set up for Counterargument: [05:54–06:09]
• Why the Pick Still Doesn’t Make Sense: [09:33–11:33]
• Resource Allocation, Roster Balance: [11:33–13:46]

Tone & Style

The episode maintains a lively back-and-forth, with friendly jabs and a conversational analysis style. There’s a blend of deep football insight and wry humor, especially as Marcus challenges common draft dogma and Landon cracks jokes to keep things light. Throughout, both hosts deliver clear arguments grounded in data, team context, positional value, and cap logic.

Summary Judgment:
Despite Jeremiyah Love’s elite profile and combine heroics, the realities of team needs, existing contracts, and the lost value in drafting a running back at No. 12 make it a non-starter for Dallas. Both Marcus and Landon agree—the Cowboys should look elsewhere on draft day.