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The Seattle Seahawks have been linked to running backs throughout the pre-draft process, but one NFL insider offered a more important takeaway this week than any single mock projection: Seattle may not have the luxury of waiting.

Speaking on Seattle Sports radio, NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah explained that this year’s running back class drops off more sharply than most, which could force teams like the Seahawks to rethink the usual draft formula. Instead of assuming a quality back will still be available later, Jeremiah said this may be one of those unusual years when the safer play is taking one early.

That matters in Seattle because the Seahawks sit at No. 32, and Jadarian Price has become one of the names most frequently tied to them. Seattle’s own draft preview listed the former Notre Dame back as a first-second round prospect, and the team’s recent mock trackers have repeatedly highlighted Price at or near the end of Round 1.

Why the Seahawks may view RB differently this year

Jeremiah’s most revealing point was not simply that Price fits Seattle. It was his explanation for why the position could be treated differently in this draft.

On the radio hit, Jeremiah said the average draft has about 21 running backs selected, but one general manager told him his club had only eight draftable backs on its board this year. He said that changes the math, especially for a team weighing whether to take a running back at No. 32 or wait until later. In most classes, the better bet would be to pass on the back and fill the position on Day 2 or Day 3. Jeremiah said this is not one of those years.

That is where the Seahawks angle gets interesting.

Seattle’s draft position gives it some flexibility, but not endless flexibility. Jeremiah said if the Seahawks want Price, they likely cannot move back very far and still feel comfortable. He suggested a slide of only five to seven spots, adding that he would want to stay roughly in the top 40 if that is the target. He also said Houston was one of the few teams he would even watch before Seattle as a possible landing spot for Price.

Why Jadarian Price keeps surfacing for Seattle

Price is not coming out of nowhere. He has been consistently discussed as one of the better backs in the class.

Jeremiah ranked Price No. 32 overall in his top 50 prospects earlier this year and praised his vision, balance and contact ability, while also noting that Notre Dame teammate Jeremiyah Love handled more of the pass-game workload. NFL.com’s draft coverage has also kept Price in the high-end back conversation, while Seattle’s own site recently called him the most instinctive runner in the class and slotted him firmly in the first-second round range.

Just as important, Price-to-Seattle is not an isolated media idea anymore. The Seahawks’ mock tracker published yesterday again included Price at No. 32, with the rationale that running back is one of Seattle’s biggest needs and that a first-round selection would bring the added value of a fifth-year option. Earlier tracker editions have surfaced the same link.

Why this matters for Seattle’s board at No. 32

The bigger question is not whether Seattle likes Price. The bigger question is whether Seattle believes it can wait.

If Jeremiah is right about the class flattening out after the top options, then the Seahawks may see better value taking a back early and circling back for another premium position later. On the radio segment, Jeremiah made exactly that point, saying he would rather compare the edge rushers and corners available later than the running backs who might still be on the board after Price.

That matters even more because Seattle does not have a massive pile of early picks to play with. The Seahawks own No. 32, No. 64 and No. 96, with limited total draft capital overall. In that setup, missing on a preferred position tier can sting more than usual.

So while Seahawks fans may bristle at the idea of spending a first-round pick on a running back, Jeremiah’s warning is a reminder that draft strategy is always class-dependent. In a deeper year, Seattle could probably wait. In this one, the Seahawks may decide the wait is the bigger risk.