While most fans and experts expected the Seattle Seahawks to trade back and out of the first round, general manager John Schneider ultimately stayed put. Perhaps he didn't find any takers, or maybe he didn't think the value was worth it.
Whatever the case, the Seahawks finally addressed their running back situation with a starting-caliber player, taking Notre Dame's Jadarian Price with the final pick of the first round. As expected, he was the second running back off the board in a thin class at the position.
That said, Price has the potential to be as impactful as Jeremiyah Love, now that he's likely poised to have a bigger role. According to Slap The Sign's Oliver VanDervoort, Price can lead a team if given an opportunity.
The Seattle Seahawks may have landed a true steal in Jadarian Price
"Jadarian Price was overshadowed by Jeremiyah Love, but he would have been the starting running back with almost every other team in the country," VanDervoort shared. "Price never averaged less than 5.8 YPC in his career, and he can be a weapon out of the backfield, even if he wasn't used much. There's a chance he's a 1st round pick, and it seems unlikely he'll fall past the second round."
This wouldn't be the first time we've seen a player not show his full potential because of a star teammate. Sometimes, the No. 2 actually ends up having a better career once it's all said and done. Even if that's not the case here, Price can make a case for why he should've also been considered a first-round selection all along.
The Seahawks will likely be without Zach Charbonnet for a while. Even when he returns, Price has a similar playing style to Kenneth Walker III, giving them a workhorse and speedy running back who can do damage by avoiding contact and being patient to find gaps in the defense. He has impressive vision, and while he's not as fast as his predecessor, he can turn the corner in the blink of an eye.
The Seahawks added Emanuel Wilson to the mix in free agency, but he's spent all of his career as a backup. He will most likely take Charbonnet's reps to start the year, with Price handling a bigger workload right out of the gate.
John Schneider could've gone in multiple directions at No. 32, and most signs pointed to a defensive player. That said, Price might have a higher upside than any of the players he could've gotten there, not to mention that most defensive additions would've been rotational pieces or backups, while Price is going to play a big role from the jump.
Klint Kubiak may no longer be calling the shots for the Seahawks' offense, but they're clearly sticking to what worked for them in the past. They did average the tenth-most rushing yards (123.3) and the third-most points per game (28.4), so it's hard to blame them.
Add us as a preferred source on Google