#49ers HC Kyle Shanahan said Indiana RB Kaelon Black was the second-highest-rated RB on their board (implying Seahawks 1st-round pick Jadarian Price was not).
Here’s his explanation for why they loved him so much, via @RichEisenShow:
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Seattle Seahawks rookie Jadarian Price was the second running back selected in the 2026 NFL Draft. San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan made it clear this week that Price was not the second running back on the 49ers’ board.
That creates an early NFC West subplot for Price, who was selected by Seattle with the No. 32 pick after a national-title run at Notre Dame. The Seahawks made him their first-round investment. Shanahan, meanwhile, said the 49ers viewed Indiana running back Kaelon Black as the second-best back in the class before taking him at No. 90 overall.
#49ers HC Kyle Shanahan said Indiana RB Kaelon Black was the second-highest-rated RB on their board (implying Seahawks 1st-round pick Jadarian Price was not).
Here’s his explanation for why they loved him so much, via @RichEisenShow:
Shanahan’s comments came during an appearance on “The Rich Eisen Show,” where he explained why San Francisco was willing to take Black in the third round even though he was not invited to the NFL Scouting Combine.
“We had him as the second-rated back on the board,” Shanahan said of Black. “Right or wrong, that’s our evaluation.”
That line naturally lands in Seattle because Price was the actual second running back drafted. The Seahawks selected Price at No. 32 overall, making him one of the draft class’ biggest commitments at the position.
This does not mean Shanahan was taking a direct shot at Price. It does mean a division rival’s board apparently looked much different from the actual draft order. For the Seahawks, that is the kind of comment that can age loudly either way.
If Price hits quickly, Seattle gets a first-round running back with a built-in rivalry talking point. If Black becomes a major weapon in San Francisco, the 49ers will have a draft-room receipt attached to one of Seattle’s highest-profile rookies.
Price headlines a Seahawks rookie class that arrived in Seattle this week for rookie minicamp. The team announced that five of its eight 2026 draft picks signed their rookie contracts on Thursday: cornerback Julian Neal, guard Beau Stephens, cornerback Andre Fuller, nose tackle Deven Eastern and cornerback Michael Dansby.
Notably, Price was not among the signed picks. Seattle’s announcement said Price, second-round safety Bud Clark and sixth-round wide receiver Emmanuel Henderson Jr. remained unsigned from the 2026 class.
That is not unusual for a first-round pick at this stage, but it matters because Price is not being treated like a developmental luxury. Seattle used premium capital on him, and the roster situation points to an immediate role.
The Seahawks have also already assigned Price No. 8 as he begins his first offseason program with the franchise. Field Gulls noted that Price wore No. 24 at Notre Dame before getting his Seattle number ahead of rookie minicamp.
The Price pick becomes especially interesting because Seattle’s running back room is not settled in the way it was a year ago.
Kenneth Walker III is gone, and Zach Charbonnet’s status has been clouded by injury speculation and recovery timing in post-draft depth-chart analysis. Multiple outlets have projected Price as an immediate factor because of the uncertainty around Seattle’s veteran options. CBS Sports wrote that Price landed in a strong spot for a rookie season because Walker is gone and Charbonnet is hurt.
That leaves Price entering minicamp with a real chance to push toward a major role before training camp even begins. George Holani and other backs can compete for work, but first-round running backs are drafted to play, not wait.
The minicamp piece is important. Price does not need to win the job in May, but he can start answering the biggest question attached to Seattle’s pick: Did the Seahawks draft a true offensive centerpiece, or did they reach for a back in a league that increasingly waits on the position?
Shanahan’s comment adds fuel because it gives Seahawks fans an outside comparison. Seattle did not just take the second running back. It took a running back another NFC West staff apparently ranked behind a player who lasted until the third round.
Erik Anderson is an award-winning sports journalist covering the NBA, MLB and NFL for Heavy.com. He also focuses on the trading card market. His work has appeared in nationally-recognized outlets including The New York Times, Associated Press , USA Today, and ESPN. More about Erik Anderson
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