All eyes are on Jeremiyah Love in the 2026 NFL Draft when it comes to the running back position, but draft buzz also surrounds his Notre Dame teammate, Jadarian Price.
Ranked as a top three running back in the draft class, Price is noted as a running back with elite vision, balance and an explosiveness in the open field that makes him a player many NFL teams have their eyes on in the 2026 NFL Draft.
At 5-foot-11, 203 pounds, Price isn’t a big back, but he plays the game big as he uses his physicality to get through tackles and his speed to hit holes and accelerate past defenders. In 2025, Price rushed for 674 yards and 11 rushing touchdowns with a 6.0 average. While he does have to work on his ball security and pass protection, Price is a playmaker with a high ceiling with the attributes to manifest as a starter at the NFL level.
Jadarian Price provides “home run ability”
In sharing the rock with Love in Notre Dame’s offense in 2025, Price was overshadowed just a bit by the running back star. But don’t get it twisted. Price is a star in his own right and may even shine brighter in the NFL due to his vision, balance and explosiveness once he hits the open field.
Those are all reasons NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah has Price ranked as a top 50 prospect in his latest 2026 NFL Draft prospect rankings.
Jeremiah writes:
“Price is a patient runner, letting blocks develop before bursting through the line of scrimmage. He runs low to the ground and has supreme contact balance. He is adept at stepping through low tackles and can make defenders miss in space. Price has reliable hands, but Love handled the bulk of the pass-catching duties out of the backfield. In pass protection, Price is quick to identify blitzers and closes the distance before launching into the defender. He has suffered fumble issues (three inside the opposition’s 10-yard line in 2025). He provides home run ability as a kickoff returner, taking two for touchdowns in 2025”
THE PRICE IS RIGHT X2️⃣
— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) October 19, 2025
1️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ YARDS. JADARIAN PRICE 🤯#GoIrish☘️ pic.twitter.com/XYRkeXDaWs
Jeremiah goes on to recognize Price as a running back as a potential starter at the NFL level. It is hard not to agree with that assessment given that patience as a runner and how dynamic he is in the backfield and as a kickoff return specialist. With Love expected to be the first running back off the board, teams hungry for a running back with dual-threat ability will be salivating for a chance to draft Price, here are three of them.
3 NFL teams in position to land Jadarian Price
- No. 3 - Arizona Cardinals
There is a chance the Cardinals could select Jeremiyah Love with the No. 3 overall pick, but with the team having bigger needs like quarterback, rebuilding the offensive line and various defensive needs, I don’t see them taking a running back that high in the draft. That could be a different story at No. 34, which could be a sweet spot in the draft for Price. The Cardinals currently have James Conner, Tyler Allgeier, Trey Benson and Zonovan Knight under contract and could look towards Price as a successor to Conner based on his ability to be a lead back.
- No. 2 - Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings are a team that should be intrigued by Price’s production in 2025. As a team also looking for a successor to a current veteran running back, the Vikings have been active when it comes to scouting running backs in this draft. They have already met with prospects like Kaytron Allen, Emmett Johnson and Demond Claiborne. If they have an opportunity to take Price high on Day 2, they will get their future back and a player who can share carries with Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason. With Jones getting up there in age and attrition and Mason headed for free agency following the 2026 NFL season, running back is a high-priority need in this draft for the Vikings.
- No.1 - Seattle Seahawks
The Super Bowl champions aren’t desperate by any means at the running back position, but it is a need following the departure of Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet returning from a season-ending ACL repair. Like both the Cardinals and Vikings, the Seahawks could swing and hit on a running back in the middle rounds of the 2026 NFL Draft, but if they swing high, Price is the ideal running back. Could Seattle target Price as high as No. 32 if they have high interest? They may have to because he won’t be around when they select later in the second round. As a running back with three-down back potential, Price would be an ideal replacement for Walker and may even be an upgrade due to his untapped potential.