The Seahawks added an explosive playmaker to their offense in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, selecting Jadarian Price, a running back out of Notre Dame, with pick No. 32.
“I try not to listen to the noise and media and everything, but I knew that Seattle was pretty interested in me,” Price said on a conference call from his hometown of Denison, Texas. “They knew the type of player I was, what I bring to the program. I didn’t know exactly what was going to happen, but I’m so blessed to be in this position and be picked by the Seattle Seahawks.”
And when the call did come from the Seahawks, it was an emotional moment for Price.
“It was wild, because I [was] walking around the whole room, and as soon as Seattle was up, I was like, ‘All right, this is the last one, let’s sit down,'” Price said. “As I was going to sit down, I get the call, and emotions just hit. I thought I would be a little bit more calm, but that phone call is a little different. It was just immediate tears and joy.”
Price, averaged 6.0 yards per carry last season for the Irish, rushing for 674 yards and 11 touchdowns on 113 carries. He also added two receiving touchdowns and two touchdowns as a kick returner, averaging 37.5 yards per return.
Price, a third-team All-American as an all-purpose player, did not have a chance to put up bigger numbers because he shared a backfield with Jeremiyah Love, who was selected third overall by the Cardinals, but Price’s college tape shows plenty of big-play ability.
Not long after making the pick, Seahawks general manager John Schneider talked to the media about Price, talking about his “Instant acceleration, vision, cut back ability, but his ability to work it back, not just completely bouncing all the time, working it back inside. And then probably his contact balance… One of his super talents is his ability to cut back and crease it. He has home run speed; he has a lot of explosive runs. He has returned three kickoffs for touchdowns in his career, two this year. That’s such a unique feel. The USC game was ridiculous. Just that instant acceleration.”
Price gives the Seahawks another quality option in a backfield that lost 2024 starter and Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III in free agency. He’ll compete with the likes of Zach Charbonnet, when he returns from injury, as well as George Holani, Kenny McIntosh, and free-agent addition Emanuel Wilson.
Price sees himself as a fit in Seattle, saying, “Outside zone, that’s my bread and butter. Just being able to make one decisive move and get vertical.”