NFL Rookie Report: Jadarian Price leads 9 rookies ready to make noise in 2026

The NFL season is finally here, and Seattle Seahawks running back Jadarian Price is one rookie ready to make an immediate impact. With Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III now in Kansas City, Price has an opportunity to step into a significant role right away. And while Jeremiyah Love may enter the season with more hype, I believe Price has a chance to make a bigger impact than any other rookie running back from the 2026 NFL Draft.

In this week's Rookie Report, we take a closer look at why Price is positioned to be a difference-maker in Seattle while also highlighting five other rookies to watch this week, including three former Ohio State Buckeyes. We will also take a look at several Day 3 rookies who could make an impact during their first NFL seasons.

Why Jadarian Price is the rookie running back to watch in 2026

Going into the season, most of the hype surrounding rookie running backs centers around Arizona Cardinals rookie Jeremiyah Love. While there is plenty of reason to expect big things from Love, when it comes to which rookie running back could make the biggest impact, that honor may belong to the other Notre Dame running back taken in the first round, Jadarian Price.

The biggest reason for this is that Price is in a much better situation in Seattle than Love is in Arizona. While Love could face loaded boxes throughout the season due to the lackluster Arizona passing game, Price will be counted on to be a part of the offense rather than the focal point of it.

Price is also going to one of the best running schemes in the NFL. Last season, the Seahawks ranked 10th in the NFL with 124.4 rushing yards per game and fourth with 29.9 rushing attempts per game, displaying just how much of a focus they put on the running game. That environment helped Kenneth Walker III, whose playing style is similar to Price's, have one of the best seasons of his career before signing a lucrative contract with the Kansas City Chiefs this offseason.

Along with landing in a great situation, Price has the talent to take advantage of it.

When watching his college film, the first thing that stands out is Price's elusiveness as a runner. He consistently showed the ability to cut on a dime, which was a big reason why he forced 30 missed tackles last season. His vision is another reason why he is such a good fit in Seattle's zone-blocking scheme. Price does a good job identifying running lanes and getting through them quickly, which helped him average 6.0 yards per carry for the Irish last season.

The biggest question Price will have to answer this season is whether he can become a consistent contributor in the passing game. He caught just 10 passes over the past two seasons, but that number says more about how Notre Dame used him than his ability as a receiver. Price did not drop a single pass during that span and has shown reliable hands, while his experience as a kick returner gives Seattle another way to get the ball in his hands. With the Seahawks expected to use him more in the passing game than Notre Dame did, Price has a chance to become a much more complete weapon than his college receiving numbers suggest.

Everything is in place for Price to have a major impact as a rookie. Seattle wants to run the football, its scheme fits what Price does best, and he has the explosiveness and elusiveness to take advantage of the opportunities he gets. Jeremiyah Love may be the rookie running back receiving most of the attention, but don't be surprised if Jadarian Price ends up making the bigger impact in Year 1.

Five rookies to watch in Week 1

De’Zhaun Stribling, WR, San Fransico 49ers

A player to watch in Thursday's game against the Los Angeles Rams is San Francisco 49ers wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling.

Stribling, who the 49ers will be counting on more this season following Ricky Pearsall's season-ending injury, is coming off an impressive preseason in which he caught 11 of the 13 passes thrown his way for 109 yards. With a bigger role expected in San Francisco's offense, Stribling will have an opportunity to show he can carry that preseason success into the regular season. 

Carnell Tate, WR, Tennessee Titans

A player who had a very quiet preseason is Titans first-round pick Carnell Tate, as the fourth overall pick failed to catch a single pass on the six targets thrown his way. To say the least, this is not the type of impact you are looking for from a top-five selection, but his Ohio State film should still have Tennessee fans excited. The All-American finished second in the FBS with nine catches of 40-plus yards last season on his way to catching 51 passes for 875 yards and nine touchdowns, showing the big-play ability that made him such a highly regarded prospect. 

Jeremiyah Love, RB, Arizona Cardinals

The third overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, Jeremiyah Love has been limited this preseason and could also see his workload limited Sunday because of an ankle injury. However, when he has been on the field, Love has made an impressive impact, rushing for 58 yards on just 11 carries while adding three catches for 14 yards. Durability could be one of the biggest concerns with Love as he enters the NFL, as he split carries during his time at Notre Dame and has yet to show he can handle a heavy workload as the primary back. 

Arvell Reese, LB, New York Giants

It looks like John Harbaugh may have his next great middle linebacker in Arvell Reese. Harbaugh knows a thing or two about the position after coaching Hall of Famer Ray Lewis during his time with the Baltimore Ravens. That linebacker could be Arvell Reese, who went from being named to the NFL Mocks Preseason All-Underrated Team to becoming the fifth overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Reese has already shown why the Giants invested so highly in him, earning elite PFF grades of 88.2 overall and 86.2 against the run in limited preseason action. 

"He learns very quickly, and he executes the defenses really well. And then when he doesn’t, he listens to every word of the coaching and applies it on the next opportunity. He’s making a lot of progress real fast."

Giants HC John Harbaugh

Caleb Downs, S, Dallas Cowboys

Going against his former Ohio State teammate Arvell Reese and the Giants on Sunday night will be Cowboys first-round pick Caleb Downs. Downs, who was the fifth-highest-rated player on my board going into the 2026 NFL Draft, is an extremely smart safety who has the coverage skills to hold up as a nickel corner while also possessing the strength and tackling ability to make plays against the run from the box. It will be interesting to see how new Dallas defensive coordinator Christian Parker uses Downs this season and how much he moves him around the defense. 

NFL rookie news and notes

Big expectations for Commanders wide receiver Antonio Williams

The expectations are high for Washington's third-round pick Antonio Williams, who is coming off a strong training camp that led The Athletic's Nicki Jhabvala to name him the team's young breakout star, even ahead of linebacker Sonny Styles. While that may be a little overhyped in my opinion, Williams should still have a strong impact this season after impressing the Commanders with his versatility, quickness after the catch, and body control to make difficult catches. If he can stay healthy after battling injuries last season at Clemson, look for Williams to emerge as one of the Commanders' top options in the passing game this season. 

Raiders may have another weapon in Mike Washington Jr.

In this article, we have already looked at two of the top three running backs on my board for the 2026 NFL Draft, with Jeremiyah Love earning the No. 1 spot and Jadarian Price coming in at No. 3, so let's take a look at who earned the No. 2 spot. That back is former Arkansas running back Mike Washington Jr., who fell all the way to the Las Vegas Raiders in the fourth round despite earning second-team All-SEC honors and averaging 6.4 yards per carry. To say the least, Washington has lived up to that billing so far, averaging a preseason-best 7.3 yards per carry among running backs with at least 10 carries. Look for Washington to get plenty of opportunities this season despite being behind Ashton Jeanty on the depth chart, as his explosiveness and production should make him too talented to keep off the field. 

Bears counting on sixth-round pick Jordan Van Den Berg

The Chicago Bears will be counting on sixth-round pick Jordan Van Den Berg this season after trading Gervon Dexter to the Atlanta Falcons. While Van Den Berg will begin the season as a backup defensive tackle, he is expected to play a significant role in the defensive line rotation and will need to help the Bears improve a run defense that ranked 26th in yards allowed per game last season. Van Den Berg is an explosive defensive tackle who was named first-team All-ACC last season, but his 56.5 PFF run-defense grade this preseason is a bit of a concern and something to watch as he takes on a bigger role in Chicago.

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