The Seattle Seahawks made a somewhat unpopular decision with Jadarian Price. Once again, general manager John Schneider zagged when everyone else was zigging, not only not trading out of the first round as expected, but also reaching to take a player projected to go much later.
Price was the second running back off the board in a class that seemed rather thin at the position. Even so, there was no way the Seahawks would risk missing out on him by waiting until late in the second round to get him.
Fast forward to today, and with no preseason action, some fans are still understandably skeptical. That should change after they hear that Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman actually thought he was another season away from being a top draft pick.
Jadarian Price can be a true star for the Seattle Seahawks
“I remember having a conversation with him after the season saying, ‘Hey, you can come back here and be RB1, get all these carries and show the NFL what you do with the opportunity to be RB1,'” Freeman said. “Obviously, he went to the NFL and still became a first-round draft pick. So now it’s going to be interesting to see him do it at that level. I’m as confident in him because of the way he works. Jadarian Price is a team-first guy, but will work tirelessly to be the best version of himself.”
Even in Jeremiyah Love's shadow and with a secondary role, Price still managed to turn 113 carries into 674 rushing yards (6.0 yards per carry) and a career-best 11 touchdowns. He also had six catches for 84 yards and two scores.
It's easy to look past him when a fellow star is getting most of the attention and more touches. Still, his skill set and body of work made the Seahawks feel comfortable about the idea of making him a workhorse running back.
This team has always been solid at developing their backs. He has a skill set similar to that of the departed Kenneth Walker III, turning the corner with his speed and explosiveness while not necessarily being the most physical blocker.
Of course, he could've benefited from more time in college, but almost all players would. He could've taken the easier way out, cashed in on some NIL checks, boosted his numbers, and gotten a bigger, more lucrative deal as an early first-round pick in 2026. He would've been the next Jeremiyah Love or whatever scouts would've gushed about him.
That said, going back to school isn't always the right route. He was still a first-round selection, and that speaks volumes about his talent, intangibles, and all the little things that weren't always on full display when he was riding the bench as the Robin to Love's Batman.
He couldn't have asked for a better situation. He's now on the defending Super Bowl champions with a prime opportunity to be the bellcow back for a head coach who believes in establishing the run and an organization known for its prowess on the ground.
His head coach knew he was capable of being the featured guy if given an opportunity, and the Seahawks didn't see the point in waiting. If he wasn't ready then, a full training camp with the pros must've done the trick now.
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