It’s not often I get to support a colleague while simultaneously getting to take a shot at the biggest name in the mock draft business. But thanks to Fansided.com’s Wynston Wilcox and ESPN’s Mel Kiper, now is that time as it relates to the Seattle Seahawks.
 Kiper recently put out a two-round mock for the rapidly approaching draft, and Wilcox rebutted a handful of the guru’s choices. One of them belonged to the Seahawks, who were slated to pick Notre Dame running back Jadarian Price at the end of the first round.
To be fair, there is a logic to the choice, and Kiper spells it out clearly. Seattle will begin defense of their Lombardi Trophy minus four key players from last year’s team. There are defensive players. One, Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker, played on the offense.
Jadarian Price is a fine player, but not right for the Seattle Seahawks in round one
General manager John Schneider made modest signings to replace Walker (Emanuel Wilson), cornerback Riq Woolen (Noah Igbinoghene), and Coby Bryant (Rodney Thomas). That might leave the impression that from a purely pragmatic point of view, Schneider should target an edge rusher in round one.
Boye Mafe is gone, and no one new has arrived to take his place. But there are plenty of extenuating circumstances.
Mike Macdonald employed a four-man rotation on the edge last season. With DeMarcus Lawrence and Uchenna Nwosu back, and Derick Hall ready to step into a bigger role, the need to replace Mafe isn’t as great as it might otherwise be. Schneider never neglects the position, which is why young prospects Jared Ivey and Connor O’Toole are also in the mix for 2026.
The same depth applies at safety. Bryant will be missed, but Nick Emmanwori and Ty Okada have already proven to be more than competent sidekicks for Julian Love at the back end of the defense. Thomas joins D’Anthony Bell to provide even more depth.
If Seattle is targeting a particular position in the first round, it does make sense that they might look at either running back or cornerback. The depth at corner, even with the return of Josh Jobe and the signing of Igbinoghene, is not what it was last year. Having another reliable perimeter corner will allow Macdonald and Aden Durde to continue taking full advantage of Devon Witherspoon’s elite skill set.
That is one reason why so many mocks – including many of my own – have Schneider going with a cornerback in round one. But there’s another reason, and this specifically addresses Kiper’s Jadarian Price selection.
The cornerbacks who should be available at number 32 are simply better players than Price. I say that recognizing Price’s potential to break out in the pros. He was trapped behind Jeremiyah Love at Notre Dame and could well be the second-best back in this year’s draft.
Still, given Seattle’s situation, Brandon Cisse or Chris Johnson in round one makes a lot more sense. As Fansided’s Wilcox points out, even if Price is the best of the backs not named Love, the delta between him and the next group of runners is not that great. Most significantly, Price’s skill set will not allow him to replace Kenneth Walker III.
At best, Price can provide the same type of production that Seattle expects from Zach Charbonnet and Emanuel Wilson. They are by no means identical runners, but each combines power, speed, and contact balance to make them legitimate mid-level RB1s on a good offense. None of them, including Price, is as explosive as Walker.
Seattle’s offense will miss the unique ingredient that Walker provided. It isn’t merely his speed, though that is a major component. Walker’s blend of speed, vision, balance, and rare ability to bounce runs outside without the slightest deceleration kept opposing defenses on their heels last year.
Charbonnet cannot do that. Nor can Wilson. The only back in this year's draft who can provide that is Jeremiyah Love, who will be long gone by the time Seattle chooses.
Having Price would be nice. He will be a good pro. But he does not move the needle for Seattle’s offense. The only caveat to this is if Charbonnet’s return from injury takes longer than expected. If that is the case, Price could essentially step into his shoes as part of a committee with Wilson.
But he is not replacing Walker.
Kiper does have Schneider address the cornerback position with his second round projection – Texas’ Malik Muhammad. He is a legit perimeter talent, but I question whether his thinner frame fits into the way Macdonald wants his secondary to play.
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