When talking about the Seattle Seahawks' division rivals in the NFC West, it's not the Arizona Cardinals that typically enter the conversation these days. Not since Kurt Warner's 2008 Super Bowl run at quarterback, or the Bruce Arians era from 2013-2017, have the Cardinals truly mattered.
Kyler Murray was supposed to help change that; now the Minnesota Vikings are hoping he can change their stars instead. The Cardinals are a lost team, but drafting former Notre Dame standout running back Jeremiyah Love was a step toward a different future (one that doesn't and shouldn't include quarterback Jacoby Brissett) starting this season.Â
Love was the first running back taken in this year's NFL draft, third overall, while the Seahawks took the second, Jadarian Price, with the 32nd overall pick. Both players couldn't be separated from the time they left Notre Dame to now, where they will play in the same division.
The Seattle Seahawks give Jadarian Price the OROY edge over Jeremiyah Love for one massive reason
Considering both are rookies and both have Rookie of the Year projections, which former teammate has the edge? That's the question.
By the time this season's Rookie of the Year award is presented next year, it will have been almost a decade since a running back last won the award. Saquon Barkley took home the award as a rookie in 2018 with the New York Giants. With position dominance shifting heavily to quarterback and wide receiver since then, it makes sense why a rusher hasn't won since Barkley.
Since Barkley, Murray won in 2019 with the Cardinals, followed by Justin Herbert (2020), Ja'Marr Chase (2021), Garrett Wilson (2022), C.J. Stroud (2023), Jayden Daniels (2024), and Tetairoa McMillan (2025). All six players since Barkley were either quarterbacks or wideouts. To give running backs a little more love in this conversation, Alvin Kamara won it the year before Barkley, in 2017.
The 2026 season bodes well for rookies who are not quarterbacks, because the position wasn't highly touted going into the draft, and there are zero sure-fire future great rookie quarterbacks this season. It's a different reality at running back and wide receiver, though, which is where Price and Love come into the fold.Â
Love may be the more talented and gifted rusher than his ex-Fighting Irish backup, Price. There was a reason he was taken as the third overall pick rather than the 32nd. That being said, Love has one major detractor, and it's not his fault: the Cardinals are not a good team. Furthermore, Arizona's offensive line is at the bottom of the league.Â
That alone could, and should, hold Love back from being exceptional and running away with the Rookie of the Year. It's also why it's Price's award to lose, if the award comes down to Love versus Price. The Seahawks are obviously the far superior football situation for someone like Price to find close to instant success.Â
Seattle's offense across the board is already great, and all Price has to do is fit in and run. The best thing for Price's career was falling down the draft board like he did, right into Seattle's lap, without having to trade up.Â
There are a handful of talented rookies this season at wide receiver, but in a Love versus Price showdown, the Seahawks rookie clearly has the edge, and it's a significant one, all because of who he plays for.Â
Add us as a preferred source on Google