Seahawks NFL Draft 2026 Results: Seattle DOES Take a Running Back – Jadarian Price is the Pick

The confetti has barely settled from the Super Bowl parade, and the Seattle Seahawks have already sent a seismic shockwave through the 2026 NFL Draft. As the reigning champions, the Seahawks entered the draft holding the 32nd and final pick of the first round—a position that typically screams “trade back.” General Manager John Schneider loves accumulating picks. He loves the later rounds. But on this night, in the heart of April, the Seahawks did the exact opposite of what everyone expected. They stuck and picked. And with that pick, they selected a running back. Not just any running back, but Jadarian Price from Notre Dame.

Let’s be clear: this was not the sexy pick. It wasn’t a pass-rusher or a cornerback. It was a running back—a position the league has devalued for a decade. But in Seattle, the value equation has shifted. The Seahawks have a Lombardi Trophy, a hungry roster, and a gaping hole in their backfield. Here is the complete breakdown of the Seahawks 2026 NFL Draft results, the selection of Jadarian Price, and what it means for the defending champions.

Why Seattle Passed on Trading Back: The Super Bowl Hangover is a Myth

Every mock draft analyst predicted the Seahawks would trade the 32nd pick. It’s the classic “champion’s move”—slide down ten spots, collect a third-rounder, and stockpile depth for a title defense. But John Schneider and head coach Mike Macdonald have never been conventional. They watched the board. They watched the clock. And when the New England Patriots took a wide receiver at No. 31, the phone rang. Offers came in. But Seattle said no.

Why? Because Jadarian Price was sitting there. The Seahawks have a roster built to win now. Their window is open, not cracked. Kenneth Walker III, the dynamic home-run hitter who helped Seattle win Super Bowl LX, is gone. He signed a massive free-agent deal with the Kansas City Chiefs. Zach Charbonnet, the bruising complement, is currently nursing a significant lower-body injury—one that could linger into training camp. The only healthy, proven back on the roster was Emanuel Wilson, a former Green Bay Packers backup who signed a one-year deal in March.

Wilson is a solid player. He’s not a starting-caliber back for a team with Super Bowl aspirations. The Seahawks knew this. They could have reached for a tackle or a safety. Instead, they took the best player available at a position of critical need. It’s a move that screams confidence. It says: “We are not afraid of the narrative. We are the champions. We draft to stay champions.”

Scouting Report: Jadarian Price – The Backup Who Stole the Spotlight

Let’s address the elephant in the room. Jadarian Price was not the lead back at Notre Dame. He was the backup to Jeremiyah Love, who went No. 3 overall to the Arizona Cardinals. Over three seasons in South Bend, Price accumulated only 295 total touches. That’s a light workload by modern NFL standards. But here’s the secret that Seahawks scouts uncovered: Price’s efficiency is off the charts.

When he touched the ball, he made things happen. He averaged 6.1 yards per carry for his career. He forced 48 missed tackles on those limited runs. He caught 42 passes out of the backfield, showing soft hands and route-running ability that belies his size (5’10”, 210 pounds). He is not a plodder. He is a one-cut, downhill runner with the burst to hit the second level before linebackers can react.

Here is the raw scouting breakdown:

• Explosiveness: Price ran a 4.39-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. That’s elite speed. He can turn a corner and outrun defensive backs.
• Vision: He reads blocks well. In limited reps, he showed an innate ability to find cutback lanes. He doesn’t dance behind the line.
• Pass Protection: This is the underrated skill. Price is a willing and capable blocker. He stonewalled blitzing linebackers at Notre Dame. For a rookie, that’s rare.
• Durability Concern: The low touch count is a double-edged sword. He has fresh legs, but he also has a history of a hamstring issue that cost him four games in 2025. The Seahawks’ medical staff signed off on this pick.

This is not a reach. This is a calculated gamble on a player who was hidden behind a generational talent. Jeremiyah Love was the star. Price was the secret weapon. Now, he steps into the spotlight.

How Jadarian Price Fits the Seahawks’ Championship Offense

Seattle’s offense in 2025 was a masterclass of balance. Quarterback Geno Smith, despite being 35, played at an MVP level. The offensive line, anchored by rookie sensation Olu Fashanu, was a top-five unit. The passing attack featured DK Metcalf and Jaxon Smith-Njigba stretching defenses. But the running game was the engine. Kenneth Walker averaged 5.2 yards per carry and scored 14 touchdowns. The Seahawks led the league in play-action efficiency because defenses had to respect the run.

Now, the engine has a new driver. Jadarian Price is not Kenneth Walker. He is faster. He is shiftier. But he is also unproven as a bell-cow back. That’s where the plan comes together. The Seahawks will not ask Price to carry the ball 300 times. They will deploy a running back by committee approach, at least to start the season.

Emanuel Wilson will get the early-down work. He’s a 225-pound power back who can grind out tough yards. Price will be the change-of-pace weapon—the guy who comes in on second-and-long or third down. He will catch screens. He will run outside zone. He will be the home-run threat that keeps safeties honest. And if Charbonnet returns healthy by midseason? The Seahawks could have a three-headed monster.

But let’s be honest: the Seahawks didn’t draft a running back at No. 32 to be a committee player. They drafted him to be a star. The front office believes Price has Pro Bowl potential. They see a player who, if given 200 carries, could produce 1,200 yards and 10 touchdowns. The scheme fits. The offensive line fits. The quarterback fits. Everything is aligned for Price to succeed immediately.

Expert Analysis: Was This the Right Pick for Seattle?

The analytics community will scream. “Running backs in the first round are bad value!” they will say. “You can find a back in the fourth round!” That logic is sound in a vacuum. But the Seahawks are not drafting in a vacuum. They are drafting to defend a title. They have a roster that is “win-now” loaded. They needed a running back who could start Week 1. They needed a player who could step into the huddle and command respect. Jadarian Price is that player.

Consider the alternatives. The Seahawks could have drafted a defensive end like James Pearce Jr., but they already have Boye Mafe and Derick Hall. They could have taken a cornerback, but Riq Woolen and Devon Witherspoon are All-Pros. The only glaring hole was running back. And the board fell perfectly. Price was the highest-graded player on their board at pick 32.

This is a value pick, not a reach. In a draft class where five running backs went in the first 40 picks, Price was the last of the elite tier. The Seahawks got a first-round talent. They did not panic. They did not trade back for a future fourth-rounder. They took the player who can help them win Super Bowl LXI.

My prediction: Jadarian Price will be the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. Bold? Yes. But the stage is set. He has a championship-caliber supporting cast. He has a chip on his shoulder from being a backup. He has fresh legs. And he has the Seattle Seahawks’ full trust. Watch for him to explode in Week 1 against the San Francisco 49ers.

Strong Conclusion: The Seahawks’ Draft Masterstroke

The 2026 NFL Draft will be remembered for many things. The Arizona Cardinals taking Jeremiyah Love at No. 3. The Chicago Bears trading up for a quarterback. But for Seahawks fans, this draft will be remembered as the night they stole a running back at the end of the first round. Jadarian Price is not a consolation prize. He is the prize.

Seattle did what champions do. They ignored the noise. They ignored the mock drafts. They saw a player who could help them win, and they took him. The running back position is no longer a question mark. It is a weapon. The Seahawks are reloading, not rebuilding. And with Price in the backfield, the road to another Super Bowl runs through Seattle.

Welcome to the Pacific Northwest, Jadarian Price. The Seahawks are counting on you. And after this draft, so are we.

Source: Based on news from Yahoo Sports.