Full Breakdown
Seattle Seahawks Pick Notre Dame Backup RB Jadarian Price at No. 32 in 2026 NFL Draft
4/24/2026, 12:33:43 PM
Draft Selection and Immediate Context
On April 23, 2026, the Seattle Seahawks used the No. 32 overall pick to select Notre Dame running back Jadarian Price. The selection addresses the backfield gap left by MVP Kenneth Walker III’s free-agency move and Zach Charbonnet’s ACL injury. Price, viewed as the second-best running back behind teammate Jeremiyah Love, becomes Seattle’s fourth first-round running back.
Notre Dame Backfield Profile
Price spent three years as Love’s backup, never starting and logging 280 carries—far below the 500-plus typical for top prospects. He posted 1,692 rushing yards, 21 touchdowns, three kickoff-return scores, a 4.49-second 40-yard dash, a 35-inch vertical, and 6.1 yards per carry. His receiving résumé includes 15 catches for 162 yards.
Seattle Draft Strategy and Roster Needs
Seattle entered the draft with four picks: No. 32 (first), No. 64 (second), No. 96 (third) and No. 188 (sixth from Cleveland). The team had traded its fourth- and fifth-round selections for returner Rashid Shaheed and its original sixth-rounder to Jacksonville for defensive lineman Roy Robertson-Harris. GM John Schneider had considered moving out of the first round, but fear of losing Price kept the pick. The move also targets needs at cornerback and edge rusher.
Official Statements
Schneider emphasized the limited draft capital, saying “it’s no secret we have four picks, so we’ll be looking to move back,” yet confirmed the Price pick. Analyst Adam Rank stressed the backfield hole: “With Kenneth Walker III gone and Zach Charbonnet recovering from a torn ACL, Seattle needs more juice in the backfield.” Bradley Locker noted that retaining the first-round slot “addresses the Seahawks’ needs at running back, cornerback, and edge rusher.” Coach Mike Macdonald highlighted Price’s loyalty to Notre Dame as a factor.
Evaluation of Skill Set and Limitations
Scouts call Price a “tempo-driven back with smooth hips, elite vision and a nose for the end zone,” but warn his “limited third-down value” may limit upside. His modest receiving numbers underscore a need to improve as a pass-catcher, a focus of his offseason work. Former Notre Dame RB coach Deland McCullough praised his efficiency, noting NFL evaluators value “showing more with less.”
Verbatim Quotes
- “I've sat in those rooms in the NFL, and I've never heard a GM or scout say 'God, I wish that guy had 200 more carries,'" McCullough, now running backs coach at Oklahoma, told me.” — Deland McCullough, Oklahoma RB coach
- “It's no secret with us, we have four picks, so we'll be looking to move back,” — John Schneider, Seattle Seahawks GM
- “With Kenneth Walker III gone and Zach Charbonnet recovering from a torn ACL, Seattle needs more juice in the backfield,” — Adam Rank, NFL.com analyst
- “They're their biggest cheerleaders — they both wanted the other to be successful," Seider told me.” — JaJuan Seider, Notre Dame RB coach
What’s Next
Price reports to rookie minicamp in May and will compete for a complementary role in Seattle’s backfield. His progress in pass-protection and receiving drills will shape his placement on the depth chart ahead of training camp.
