Running Back in the First Round? Seahawks Could Target Notre Dame's Jadarian Price at No. 32
The Seahawks have a problem at running back, and they might need to use their first-round pick to solve it. After losing Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III to the Kansas City Chiefs in free agency, Seattle is eyeing the upcoming draft as a chance to upgrade at the position, according to NFL Network analyst Eric Edholm.
The RB Depth Chart Is Thin
Walker's departure stings. But there's another concern: Zach Charbonnet tore his ACL on January 17 in the divisional round of the playoffs and is expected to miss at least part of next season. The Seahawks did add some depth earlier this week by signing former Green Bay Packer Emanuel Wilson, but he's never been a full-time starter and projects as a complementary back at best.
That's where the draft comes in. Edholm told Seattle Sports' Bump and Stacy on Tuesday that taking a running back with the No. 32 overall pick makes sense for Seattle, but he warned that this year's talent pool might force the Seahawks' hand in unexpected ways.
"You don't want to reach for a position that may not be the strongest this year. In fact, I would say just in terms of depth and overall talent, the running back class is a little bit lacking," Edholm said.
Jadarian Price Could Be the Answer
The top running back in this draft is Notre Dame's Jeremiyah Love, but he's a projected top-five pick who'll be long gone before Seattle is on the clock. Love's backup with the Fighting Irish, however, could be exactly what the Seahawks need.
Daniel Jeremiah, a regular on Seattle Sports' Brock and Salk, has the Seahawks taking Notre Dame's Jadarian Price at No. 32 in his latest mock draft. Jeremiah noted he sees "a steep drop at the running back position this year after Price."
Despite being a backup, Price earned All-America honors in 2025. He was a finalist for the Paul Hornung Award and the Jet Award. In 12 games last season, Price rushed for 674 yards and 11 TDs while averaging 6.0 yards per carry, adding 87 yards and two TDs on six receptions. He also led the country with two kickoff return TDs and a 37.5-yard average on 12 kickoff returns.
NFL.com's profile describes Price as a "more natural runner" than Love, though he lacks Love's explosiveness and pass-catching abilities. Importantly for Seattle's offensive scheme, Price runs like a zone back, which meshes perfectly with the Seahawks' wide-zone run system. At the combine, the Denison, Texas native ran a 4.49-second 40-yard dash with a 35-inch vertical jump and benched 225 pounds 21 times.
Price has the instincts and the talent to complement Seattle's offense. The question now is whether Brian Fleury and the coaching staff see him as the long-term answer at a position that suddenly has become a priority.
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This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.