Jadarian Price, Notre Dame
Getty
(Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)
The Minnesota Vikings need to find a long-term solution for the running back position. Veteran running back Aaron Jones Sr. is returning to the Vikings for the 2026 season on a restructured one-year deal. However, Jones and Jordan Mason don’t feel like RB1 solutions.
With the cream of the crop running backs off the board in free agency, could Minnesota look at the draft to find that player who has the potential to be an RB1 for the team? Moreover, one NFL Draft prospect sees himself being part of the Vikings offense.
During aMarch 18th appearance on “Up & Adams,” former Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Jadarian Price was asked about Minnesota being a potential landing spot for him in the upcoming draft next month.
“Minnesota, huh? I think that’d be nice,” Price told Adams. “Kyler Murray, Texas boy, shout out Texas. But yeah, I think that would be pretty cool.”
Price had 113 carries for 674 yards and scored 15 touchdowns in 12 games for Notre Dame in 2025,per StatMuse.
Mel Kiper Jr.’s Draft Outlook on Jadarian Price
As for where Priceis predicted to go in the 2026 NFL Draft, ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. has the running back going in the late first round.In his mock draft published on Feb. 24, Kiper has Price going to the Houston Texans at No. 28.
“Just because Price was second on the Fighting Irish’s depth chart to Jeremiyah Love doesn’t mean he can’t be an RB1 in the NFL,” Kiper wrote. “He’s a powerful runner who plays a one-cut-and-go brand of football.
“There are ball security concerns (four lost fumbles over three years), and we haven’t seen a ton from him as a pass catcher, but Price is dynamic. He ran for 11 touchdowns, caught two TD passes, and scored two more times on kickoff returns last season.”
With the Vikings having the No. 18 pick, selecting Price there would seem like a reach. As a result, if Minnesota does see the running back as a potential target in the first round, it would be ideal to trade back to garner another draft pick and select the former Notre Dame star.
Could the Vikings Select Another Notre Dame Running Back?
Recently, NFL Media analyst Charles Davis shared his mock draft before the marquee event for draft prospects. Moreover, Davis has the Vikings addressing their need for a running back in Round 1 with formerNotre Dame Fighting Irish star Jeremiyah Love.
“Are teams undervaluing the running back position again?”Davis wrote in his NFL.com mock draft thatwas published on Feb. 19. “The Vikings cannot pass on a top-three talent in this year’s draft. Head coach Kevin O’Connell will find plenty of plays for him.”
It doesn’t seem as though Love will fall to Minnesota at 18, but stranger things have happened in the draft. As a result, it will be interesting to see if running back is what the Vikings decide to go with in Round 1 or if they believe that selecting a tailback in the later rounds would be more ideal to bolster the team for 2026.