Should the Texans draft Jadarian Price?
The Houston Texans need to elevate their offense to compete in the AFC. One way they can address this is by selecting a running back in the 2026 NFL Draft. NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper recognized this and picked Notre Dame running back Jadarian Price at pick 28. He would be a high-impact player for the Texans, but a first-round pick is extremely steep.
Currently, the only consensus first-round running back is Price’s former backfield partner, Jeremiyah Love. Price is an amazing talent, but shouldn’t be selected in the first round. There is better value on both sides of the trenches, which the Texans also need.
Regardless of the perceived value, Price would be stellar in Houston’s offense. They need a running back to pair with Woody Marks. Marks had an impressive rookie campaign with 703 rushing yards and two touchdowns. The Texans are lacking depth outside of him, as the future around Nick Chubb and Joe Mixon isn’t certain.
Price is an intriguing prospect. He’s shown excellent flashes when given the opportunity in South Bend. Kiper is bullish on him and believes he is far greater than his collegiate production.
“He's a powerful runner who plays a one-cut-and-go brand of football,” Kiper wrote. “There are ball security concerns (four lost fumbles over three years), and we haven't seen a ton from him as a pass catcher, but Price is dynamic. He ran for 11 touchdowns, caught two TD passes and scored two more times on kickoff returns last season.”
Price is insanely dynamic and thrives at evading defenders in space. He has home-run speed and spectacular vision in the backfield, which allows him to survey the field and fire through a gap once one opens. Despite this skill, Price wasn’t the primary back at Notre Dame and didn’t get the opportunity to show his true skill. His stock is now soaring because analysts are getting eyes on his film.
He’s an exceptional running back, but is arguably a better kick and punt returner. He will step in and be a dynamic special teams contributor in week one. This isn’t the sole reason he could be a high draft pick, but it gives him a high floor.
The biggest issue with Price as a prospect, beyond his ball security issues, is his ability to make defenders miss. He’s incredibly elusive and knows how to find green grass, but struggles to break contact. He doesn’t have an incredible juke/spin package and tends to go down on first contact.
Even with this, Jadarian Price is an enticing prospect who could be an amazing fit for the Texans. However, pick 28 would be a reach for the former Fighting Irish.