Price not considered immediate ‘high-volume’ RB

It has been tough for some to accept that the former undrafted free agent will have a role this season, but reports continue to indicate that Seahawks coaches trust him. Henderson notes that Holani performed well as a fill-in for RB Zach Charbonnet (knee) as a passing game player during the playoffs. Charbonnet has received positive rehab reports, and a Week 1 return is considered possible. In that scenario, Holani could still rotate in as a backup. If Charbonnet is sidelined to begin the year, Holani should handle the passing down role. Whether that usage facilitates a FLEX-worthy workload remains to be seen.

Charbonnet suffered a torn ACL in Seattle’s first playoff game during their Super Bowl run. He has done some light work at minicamp and MacDonald hinted that he’s ahead of schedule. It would still be surprising to see Charbonnet on the field for Week 1, but it’s at least a good sign that MacDonald is leaving the door open. If he isn’t ready for the start of the season, George Holani would be in line to back up first-round rookie Jadarian Price. Holani would likely see the bulk of his snaps on passing downs, giving him some RB3 potential in PPR leagues.

The News Tribune’s Gregg Bell notes that Price got “entire drives with the starters Wednesday,” which was more first-team work than the 32nd pick in this year’s draft got in OTAs.” Price is still behind RB George Holani in the pecking order, but Price’s increased involvement is a good sign. Bell referred to Price as the “RB1A” in a social media post, linking to the article in reference, indicating he still thinks Price will be the team’s starter. Holani has simply earned the coaching staff’s trust and could have a role in the regular season. We will see how things shake out in training camp, though.

The pass protection and receiving talents that Holani showcased in the Seahawks’ Super Bowl LX run earned him the coaching staff’s trust last year. Although Holani is operating as the Seahawks’ current RB1, The News Tribune’s Gregg Bell notes that the team is increasing rookie RB Jadarian Price’s first-team involvement. Given Price’s first-round draft capital, it seems likely that he will overtake Holani in the practice rotation at some point this summer, but Holani seemingly does have a chance to retain a role once the season begins. Stay tuned.

NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports that Price is expected to sign the fully guaranteed deal later today. A recent report suggested that Price will not operate as the Seahawks’ bell cow right away, but operating as the committee leader seems like a safe bet. Price is an explosive rusher, but lacks experience as a receiver and pass protector. He may be best viewed as an early-season FLEX, though more reports on Price’s development and potential workload will roll in this spring and summer.

Fowler talked to league executives, coaches, and scouts about every team’s haul of rookies from the draft, so this may not come directly from the Seahawks. Still, it means that at least some people around the league don’t think Price will be a three-down back early in the year. Price struggled in pass protection and only caught 15 passes over three years at Notre Dame. He’s an explosive runner between the tackles, but his limitations are readily apparent on passing downs. Price will likely split work with George Holani out of the gates, making him more of an RB3 for Week 1.

The defending Super Bowl champion Seahawks entered the draft with just four picks, with Schneider saying in the days leading up to the draft that the team would “be looking to move back.” With no deal in place, the Seahawks went out and addressed a glaring need at running back with the selection of Notre Dame’s Jadarian Price with the No. 32 overall pick. Price figures to see an early workload as a rookie with Zach Charbonnet (Achilles) likely to miss a good portion of the season and Kenneth Walker now with the Chiefs. Standing in his way, at least for now, is Emanuel Wilson, who rushed for 125-496-3 with the Packers last season, but Price feels like a fairly safe bet to at least open the 2026 season in a committee with Wilson, but with only 15 career receptions to his name he could be at risk of sitting on most third downs. With two Day 2 picks at their disposal (No. 64 and No. 96), it’s possible Schneider still finds a way to acquire more picks later in the draft to give the Seahawks more options beyond the fourth-round pick they currently hold on Day 3.

Price (5’11/203) missed his freshman season after suffering a torn Achilles during summer workouts. Though he only played a backup role as a sophomore, his kick return production — highlighted by a touchdown versus USC — proved the Achilles issue was behind him. Price unfortunately never got his chance to truly shine at Notre Dame as he would play behind Jeremiyah Love over the next two seasons. He racked up 233 carries for 1,420 yards and 18 scores during that time. In 2025, Price easily led the country in kickoff return yards per attempt (37.5) and tied the FBS-high in return touchdowns at two. Price is a one-cut sprinter, but his 4.49 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine isn’t overwhelmingly fast. He’s also severely limited as a pass-catcher, having brought down a total of 15 balls over three seasons. Price’s limitations may put a ceiling on his fantasy value, but he fits the boom/bust archetype that has worked out for players like Ken Walker and DeVon Achane in recent years. Price should immediately slot in as the RB1 for the Seahawks with Kenneth Walker now in Kansas City and Zach Charbonnet recovering from ACL reconstruction.

Per Rapoport, “NFL evaluators and coaches really, really like” Price, though Notre Dame’s 2025 backup should not be viewed as the “consensus” RB2 at this time. Rapoport adds that it is possible a team will choose to draft Price at the end of the first round, but being drafted in the second round is “probably the sweet spot” for him. Price missed his 2022 freshman season after rupturing his left Achilles tendon during a summer workout. He played a minor role in 2023 before becoming Notre Dame’s RB2 in 2024. Over the past two seasons, he rushed 233 times for for 1,420 yards and 18 touchdowns and caught 10 passes for 97 yards and two touchdowns.

Washington, after excelling at the NFL Combine, has been linked to a few teams, including the Broncos. Bowen said Washington, who went for 1,070 yards and eight touchdowns at Arkansas in 2025, would be a solid fit for Seattle’s offense. “Under new coordinator Brian Fleury — who coached with Kyle Shanahan in San Francisco — we should expect a run game that leans on motion and movement in both zone and gap concepts,” Bowen said, adding that Washington would likely be a Day Two pick. “Washington has the lateral agility to fit in that scheme, and he can dart through daylight with his 4.33 speed. His frame can handle NFL volume, plus he can produce on swings and screens as a pass catcher.” The Seahawks backfield is in flux after Ken Walker left for Kansas City in free agency and Zach Charbonnet continues to recover from a late-season knee injury. The Seahawks signed former Packers RB Emanuel Wilson in free agency. Washington would make sense for Seattle if the team looks to bolster its backfield in the second or third round.