The Seattle Seahawks identified Kenneth Walker III’s replacement in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, selecting Notre Dame’s Jadarian Price 32nd overall. Price had a solid redshirt junior campaign, rushing for 674 yards while averaging 6.0 yards per attempt and 11 touchdowns, along with six receptions for 87 yards and two touchdowns, and 12 kick returns for 450 yards and two touchdowns, earning Third-Team All-American honors. He wrapped up his four-year stint at Notre Dame, totaling 1,692 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns, 162 receiving yards and three touchdowns, and 794 kick return yards and three touchdowns.
Despite never starting in college, Price is expected to take over as the team’s lead back as a rookie, with Zach Charbonnet set to miss most of next season to recover from an ACL tear suffered in the Divisional Round. Although he is the favorite, he is not guaranteed the starting gig and will compete against Emanuel Wilson and George Holani this offseason.
Seattle Seahawks’ top pick primed to succeed in Year 1
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Running back Jadarian Price during Notre Dame football’s Pro Day at Irish Athletic Center on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, in South Bend.
In an NFL.com article, Tom Blair identified ten rookies in position to succeed in Year 1 and beyond. He named Jadarian Price, describing him as a scheme fit in offensive coordinator Brian Fleury’s outside-zone running scheme. Blair also noted that Price does not need to carry Seattle by himself since they already have standouts in Sam Darnold and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and instead, the offense needs him to be a serviceable back until Zach Charbonnet returns.
“Price doesn’t need to carry Seattle entirely by himself. He just needs to fit into an established offense led by Sam Darnold and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, providing a reasonably close facsimile of the juice that Walker brought. As recently recounted in The Athletic, Notre Dame running backs coach Ja’Juan Seider pegged the outside-zone running scheme — which new Seahawks offensive coordinator Brian Fleury is expected to continue operating — as Price’s ‘love language’ in an interview with KJR-FM, a take that Price did not dispute at his introductory news conference,” Blair said.
“And Seider highlighted another plus: Price’s experience making an impact while sharing snaps with Jeremiyah Love, which should come in handy once Zach Charbonnet returns from a torn ACL. Is there a better first gig out there than jumping into an important supporting role for the defending Super Bowl champs?”