Should the Texans draft Jadarian Price?
NFL Draft analyst Matt Miller created his post-Senior Bowl two-round mock draft. One of the most interesting picks was the Houston Texans selecting Notre Dame running back Jadarian Price in the second round. They would need to address other needs first, but Price would be a perfect fit in their offense and give CJ Stroud another explosive playmaker.
Miller had the Texans selecting Clemson offensive tackle Blake Miller in the first round. Picking an offensive lineman is necessary before they select a luxury like a running back. In fact, they may want to add multiple players, whether that’s in free agency or during the draft, before this.
The Texans running back room is thin. Rookie Woody Marks had an outstanding year with 832 yards and three touchdowns, but they are lacking depth behind him. Joe Mixon suffered a season-ending foot injury, and his future is in question. It’s pivotal that the Texans don’t become one-dimensional and dependent on Stroud as a passer. This is why drafting a running back would be wise.
Price is an underrated prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft primarily because he was the backup to Jeremiyah Love at Notre Dame. This can be viewed in one of two ways- positively or negatively. One perspective is that Price doesn't have a lot of wear and tear on his body and will have fresh legs for the NFL. Conversely, some may view it as he wasn’t good enough to start. Either way works, and both could be partly true, but he has shown elite ability when given the chance.
Price is an excellent athlete. He contains home-run speed and can burn a defense deep. Additionally, he has outstanding vision and patience, which allows him to survey the field and find an open gap. Once he sees a lane, he uses his rapid acceleration to fly through the hole and gain yards.
Besides being a threat on offense, Price is an ace on special teams. He’s a fantastic kick returner, with two touchdowns in 2025. He’s a threat and will force opposing kickers to kick away from him.
The biggest issue with Price is his struggles with breaking tackles. He’s insanely elusive, using his agility to evade defenders. However, he lacks the ability to consistently power through and break tackles. This creates some cause for concern as a rusher. Regardless of this, he can develop and has the potential to be one of the most dynamic running backs in the NFl.
Overall, Matt Miller’s idea of Texans selecting Jadarian Price would be smart, but they need to address the offensive line before they have the luxury to. Price would be an excellent fit in their offense and would give CJ Stroud another dynamic playmaker for years to come.