Jadarian Price Draft Profile: Could Notre Dame Have the First Two RBs in the NFL Draft?
- Noah Wehby
- Feb 25
- 5 min read
While Jeremiyah Love seems to be a surefire top-10 pick, Jadarian Price's name will likely be called early on day two, or perhaps even at the end of day one. The question now becomes, where does he land, and what kind of player is that team getting?
It seems likely that Notre Dame's former two-headed monster will be the first two running backs taken in the NFL draft. Like Love, Price has been incredibly productive and efficient in the snaps he was given at Notre Dame. Even while being second-string to Love at Notre Dame, Price has still caught the attention of every NFL scout, enough to have him considered as the second-best running back in the class. It is not only a glowing endorsement of the running back room Notre Dame had, but it also shows just how special Price is, even if he does not always get the same attention as Love.
Price burst onto the scene at Notre Dame during the first game of the 2024 season. In that game, Price hit on the Irish's first big play of the season when he broke a run loose for 47-yards against Texas A&M. That play was the first in a long list of incredible runs by Price that all Irish fans quickly grew accustomed to during his career in South Bend. In that season, Price went on to run for 746 yards, seven touchdowns, and averaged just over six yards per carry. It was this unselfish, impressive, and pivotal season by Price that put Notre Dame's RB room on the map as one of the best in the country.
In 2025, Price continued his excellent performance, making it clear that Notre Dame had claimed the title for the best RB room in college football. While it was tainted by a couple of costly fumbles, Price reinforced his consistent ability to run hard, break tackles, and find lanes to the second and third levels of the defense. Price's carries did drop a bit in 2025, but he still managed to finish with 674 yards, 11 touchdowns, and six yards per carry.
Although Price might not have the other-worldly athleticism and burst of Love, Price has a lot of qualities that NFL teams would be lucky to have. First, Price has the perfect NFL body to survive in the fast, hard-hitting nature of the league. Standing at 5'11" and 210 pounds, Price has a stout build, making him a physical runner that is hard to bring down. With that size, Price still has the speed and acceleration to finish plays and find his way to the end zone. Secondly, Price has incredibly fast feet. Price became known at Notre Dame for his ability to navigate the line of scrimmage, bounce a run to the outside, and then beat defenders to the end zone. It was plays like this that displayed just how smooth and fluid a runner Price is. Lastly, Price projects to be an excellent and effective kick returner, which has become much more important due to rule changes in the NFL. Now that NFL teams return more kickoffs, an explosive returner like Price brings extra value to a player who is already getting high-pick considerations.
Price is projected anywhere from the tail end of the first round to the beginning of the third round, giving him a lot of potential landing spots. While it is hard to pin down an exact spot that he could land, here are a few teams that could be looking to improve at the running back position this draft.
Round 2, Pick 59/Round 3, Pick 69: Houston Texans
The Houston Texans have some questions to answer this offseason when it comes to the running back room. While Joe Mixon is still under contract, there is some uncertainty about whether he will be a Texan next season. Mixon missed most of last season due to an injury. Injuries have been plaguing Mixon for years, and at his age, the Texans could stand to get younger and a lot cheaper at the running back position. That is why Price could be a viable option for them in the late second and early third. The Texans have already found success in their young running back Woody Marks, and with Price, they could form a young and talented room for years. In today's NFL, many teams look to accomplish success in the run game with 2-3 running backs. Neither Price nor Marks are "bell-cow" running backs, but they are both more than good enough to build a strong committee of runners in Houston.
Round 2, Pick 62: Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are in huge need of a running back after a very strong season that was ended in the AFC Championship. With such a strong team, it is now their job to reinforce their weaker positions to ensure they can make another run, hopefully this time ending in a Super Bowl. One position that they will give a lot of attention to is the running back position. RJ Harvey showed promise this past season, but J.K. Dobbins is set to become a free agent, making the Broncos incredibly thin at running back. Price could be an option for them late in the second round, which could bring some big-play ability to this offense. If the Broncos do not sign a running back in free agency, Price would pair nicely with Harvey. Harvey is a physical, bruising runner who chips away at a defense five yards at a time. While Price does have some of that, he is really looking to hit on a big play after making a defender or two miss. Big plays were a huge focus for the Broncos last season, as their offense would sometimes become bogged down. Price could come in and immediately be a difference maker in that role.
The Texans and the Broncos are two of the main teams that could be looking to draft Price in the late second and into the early third, but any team could really be an option for Price. Teams are constantly making moves to get younger and cheaper at positions, especially at running back. Free agency will give a lot of insight into which team may still be looking to draft a running back. Price projects to instantly become a contributing part of the rushing attack and a dangerous return man. In the future, Price does have the potential and talent to be an established starter in the NFL. All of that makes him a coveted prospect in a draft that is weak at the running back position.
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