John Schneider called Jadarian Price a “class act” the moment the Seahawks drafted him 32nd overall in the first round of 2026. But the general manager and head coach Mike Macdonald understand what Price can become extends beyond his reputation: a receiver out of the backfield who transforms Seattle’s offensive ceiling the same way Kenneth Walker did.
Price’s college stats as a pass catcher at Notre Dame look damning on paper: 15 receptions across 41 games for 162 yards and three touchdowns. They’re not indicative of his actual ability. Jeremiyah Love, his teammate and fellow first-round pick, hoarded the receiving work. Love caught 63 balls for nearly 600 yards and six touchdowns in the same three-year window. The Fighting Irish needed only one primary back to get targets. Price’s role was defined by Love’s stardom, not by his hands.
Jadarian Price Can Grow Into a Role With the Seattle Seahawks’ Offense That Made Kenneth Walker So Valuable
What made Walker dangerous wasn’t just his 1,000-plus receiving yards across four seasons with Seattle. It was the trust quarterback Sam Darnold placed in him as a checkdown valve. In 2025, Walker’s only year throwing to Darnold, he caught 31 passes for 282 yards, averaging a career-best 9.1 yards per reception. Walker wasn’t a fullback who occasionally ran routes. He was a legitimate receiving option.
The Seahawks moved Walker to the Kansas City Chiefs in free agency, creating the vacancy Price now fills. Schneider and Macdonald aren’t simply replacing a rusher; they’re replacing an offensive weapon. Price was drafted to occupy that role eventually.
The speed, footwork, and versatility are already there. The hands are elite. What remains is opportunity and volume. When the Seahawks drafted Price with the No. 32 overall pick, they signaled their intention to develop him as a multi-dimensional threat, not just a between-the-tackles runner.
Everyone in the building knows Price has exceptional hands. The pass-catching question isn’t whether Price can do it. It’s whether Seattle’s coaching staff believes he should.
Price’s College Stats as a Pass Catcher Are Barely Existential
Fifteen catches in 41 games translates to one reception per 2.7 games. That ratio screams limitation. Context collapses the argument entirely.
Notre Dame runs one of college football’s most efficient offenses, one that doesn’t need to spread targets across multiple receivers to win. Love was the volume receiver. Price was the hammer in short-yardage situations and the secondary option on obvious passing downs. His drop rate was negligible. His ability to catch in traffic mirrors what made Walker so valuable to Darnold: willingness to go across the middle and secure contested catches.
Scouts who covered Price at the NFL Combine noted his body control and sticky hands. These are the attributes that don’t show up in catch totals when you’re splitting reps with the draft’s top two running backs from the same program. At the Combine, evaluators confirmed he possesses elite receiving instincts.
The Seahawks will invest heavily in developing Price as a dual-threat. Macdonald’s offense is built around spacing and matchups. A running back who can line up as a slot receiver or motion into the flat is a major challenge for defensive coordinators. Price has the athleticism to thrive in that role. He has the hands. He just needed the platform.
During the team’s OTA sessions, Price will work extensively on route running and timing with his quarterbacks. It is where the receiving foundation gets built. This phase is where the opportunity becomes production.
Price’s reputation as a “class act” matters. Schneider raved about his professionalism and the way he carries himself, qualities that define his character. But the Seahawks didn’t spend the 32nd overall pick on a good person. They drafted an athlete with Combine measurables and on-field film that convinced them he can become the passing-game asset Kenneth Walker was.
The receiving numbers will come. Price’s role in Seattle’s offense is entirely about opportunity. The Seahawks are giving him every chance to maximize it. Watch for his development during training camp and into the preseason.
