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INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 28: Jadarian Price of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish participates in a drill during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 28, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

The Seattle Seahawks found themselves in a tough spot this offseason at the running back position. Coming off a Super Bowl victory with a young, ascending roster, the front office correctly assessed that they wouldn’t be able to retain all their pending free agents as well as hand out well-deserved extensions to their young stars — that’s just not feasible in the salary cap era.

Instead, the Seahawks chose to let Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III leave in free agency, where he ultimately signed with the Chiefs. His backfield buddy, Zach Charbonnet, tore his ACL in the divisional round of the playoffs against the 49ers. That left a sizable hole at running back in Seattle, one that is now being filled by a rookie.

Seattle Seahawks RB Jadarian Price Named Rookie Who “Needs to Succeed” in 2026

GettySTANFORD, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 29: Jadarian Price #24 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish (now of the Seattle Seahawks) runs for a touchdown against Brandon Nicholson #9 of the Stanford Cardinal in the second quarter at Stanford Stadium on November 29, 2025 in Stanford, California. (Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images)

With the No. 32 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Seahawks selected Notre Dame RB Jadarian Price. His college teammate Jeremiyah Love got the bulk of the attention from fans and the media, but Price was an extremely productive back in his own right who profiles well to the NFL level.

“Super Bowl LX MVP Kenneth Walker III is now a Chief. And at publishing, Zach Charbonnet is just three months removed from ACL surgery,” Gennaro Filice of NFL.com wrote. “Thus explains Seattle’s polarizing pick at the end of Round 1: The Seahawks, who ran the ball at the third-highest rate last season (50%), had a gaping hole in the backfield. Charbonnet will return at some point next season, but Price figures to get ample burn, especially in the early goings.”

“The good news is that he enters the league with plenty of tread left on the tires, having played the role of Robin to Jeremiyah Love’s Batman at Notre Dame. Price never eclipsed 15 touches in a single game during his three seasons with the Fighting Irish, while totaling 15 receptions in 41 contests. On the flip side, such limited usage in college makes you wonder how big a workload he’ll be able to carry in the NFL.”

“Price weighed in at a lighter-than-expected 203 pounds at the NFL Scouting Combine, but prospects routinely transform their bodies for the poking and prodding of the pre-draft process,” Filice continued. “This first-round pick is clouded with uncertainty, but one thing’s for sure: The reigning champs need someone to tote the rock.”

The Seahawks Are Looking to Repeat

Despite winning the Super Bowl last season, all the offseason hype surrounds the Seahawks in-division rival: the Los Angeles Rams. While it’s true the Rams were nearly as good as the Seahawks last season and were aggressive in pursuit of roster upgrades over the last few months, Seattle shouldn’t be counted out.

It’s early, and no one was talking about the Seahawks as Super Bowl contenders this time last year. But it’s looking like the Rams and Seahawks will be battling once again not just for the division, but for the Lombardi Trophy.