Seahawks land explosive Notre Dame playmaker Jadarian Price. Dominant runner and electrifying kick returner, Price brings game-breaking ability to Seattle's backfield.
The Seattle Seahawks have drafted former Notre Dame running back Jadarian Price in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. He was taken with the No. 32 overall pick in the draft, meaning the Irish are the first team with two first round running backs since 2007.
Price was a dynamic playmaker for the Irish throughout his career. As a senior, the Texas native rushed for 674 yards and 11 touchdowns on just 113 carries. He averaged 6.0 yards per carry and also had career highs with six catches for 87 yards and two more scores.
As a junior, Price racked up 746 yards and seven scores while averaging 6.2 yards per carry. In the Notre Dame win over USC, Price took over leading back duties early in the third quarter after Jeremiyah Love went down with a knee injury. Price showed what he can do as the the lead back, rushing for 110 yards on just 10 carries after Love went down.
Price was more than just a runner for Notre Dame. He was the team's primary kick returner in 2023 and 2025, averaging 36.1 yards per return on 22 total returns. Price averaged 34.4 yards per return in 2023 and 37.5 this past season. He returned three kicks for touchdowns, including two this past season, which earned him first-team All-America honors from Sporting News and Sports Illustrated. That dynamic return ability added to his value in this draft.
The former Irish back arrived in South Bend as a freshman in 2022, and he was on the verge of earning a starting role in his first season before an Achilles injury that spring ended his season. Over the next three seasons, Price rushed for 1,692 yards and 21 touchdowns, hauled in 15 passes for 162 yards and three touchdowns, and had 794 yards on 22 kick returns for three more touchdowns. Price finished his career with 2,648 all purpose yards and 27 touchdowns.
Price was especially dominant in three wins over USC. In three games against the Trojans, Price rushed for 198 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries (7.9 YPC). He also returned a kickoff 99 yards for a score in 2023 and another 100 yards for a score in 2025.
Price was the second running back taken in the 2026 NFL Draft, and also the second Notre Dame back ..... This marks the first time in NFL history that running backs from the same school were the first two backs picked in the same draft.
SCOUTING JADARIAN PRICE
Price has outstanding all-around talent, which is why he was such an impact player for the Irish. He showed plus vision and patience as a runner in 2025. His vision was always top notch, but Price was impatient at times in 2024 as he looked to always hit the big play on his limited carries. He allowed the game to come to him a bit more in 2025 and it allowed him to be a more effective all-around runner. He went from sub-50 percent efficiency in 2024 to over 53-percent in 2025.
Price was especially good running the Inside Zone and Midzone the last two seasons. In 2024, Price averaged 8.8 yards per carry and had a 66.7-percent efficiency rate on 18 ISZ runs in 2024. He averaged 6.7 yards per carry and had a 57.4-percent efficiency rate on 47 Midzone runs in 2025. That came after going for 9.0 yards per carry and had a 51.7-percent efficiency rate on 29 Midzone runs in 2024.
His jump cut is as good as any back in the country and Price shows a unique ability to get through smaller holes and he combines sudden cutting ability with top notch contact balance on the second level. Price lacks the elite speed that Love possesses, but he still ran a 4.48 at the Combine and he was a big play threat at Notre Dame. On top of his three kick returns for scores, Price also scored on runs of 70, 65, 58, 49, 47 and 36 yards in his career. Price also had a 35-yard touchdown reception in the win over Arkansas this past season.
There are two knocks on Price as he transitions to the next level. The first is his tendency to put the ball in the ground, something that flared up in both 2024 and 2025. He wasn't used often in the pass game, but he was a playmaker as a pass catcher. Where Love will need to evolve and improve in the NFL is as a pass blocker, and area that he was not consistent enough for the Irish.
IB Draft Profile
Jadarian Price Highlights
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