Should the 49ers draft Jadarian Price?
NFL Draft analyst Chad Reuter created a four-round mock draft on Friday, March 20, where the San Francisco 49ers had a home-run selection with Notre Dame running back Jadarian Price on day two. Price would be an explosive backup for Christian McCaffrey and could be the long-term solution after the veteran hangs up the cleats.
The 49ers spent the 58th overall pick on Price. Some analysts have mocked him in round one, which is far too steep, but his value is ideal in the second round. This would allow John Lynch to address a bigger positional need at number 27 and have the luxury to select someone who won’t start immediately.
Christian McCaffrey is still a dynamic player, but is 29 years old and has had a lengthy injury history. Because of this, they must find his successor and an explosive secondary option. Luckily for the 49ers, Price fits this role perfectly. In fact, he was in a similar position while at Notre Dame. He was the complement to Jeremiyah Love and didn’t see a majority of the workload. This shows the 49ers that he thrives in this situation and would be a dream pairing.
As a prospect, Price has breakaway speed. It’s challenging for defenders to keep pace with him. This alone is great, but is exponentially better when his elite vision and acceleration are considered. He’s patient behind the line, letting his blocks set up. Once Price sees a gap, he fires on all cylinders and bursts through the whole, quickly striding toward the second level. He’s decisive and doesn’t hesitate, which makes it challenging for defenders to react.
Beyond his offensive prowess, Price is an elite special teams contributor. He’s a dangerous kick returner who housed two touchdowns in 2025. He understands how to find open space and uses his aforementioned speed to fly past defenders.
The main issue with Price’s game is his inconsistency in breaking tackles. He isn’t particularly powerful or elusive in one-on-one situations, which causes him to fall on first contact far too often. He excels at navigating through traffic, but gets slowed down when a defender reaches him.
Overall, Jadarian Price is an excellent fit for the 49ers this offseason, especially on day two. His experience in his projected role, explosiveness, patience, and special teams ability make him an enticing prospect, regardless of his inconsistencies in breaking through tackles. He would be a perfect backup to Christian McCaffrey and could eventually take over as the starter.