One week into Seahawks training camp, Jadarian Price has already started changing the conversation at running back.
During OTAs and minicamp, that spot belonged to George Holani. That stretch is over now. Price has taken over the spotlight, and Seattle looks like it may be better for it.
That doesn’t mean Holani has been pushed aside completely. He’s still expected to matter in the position group, especially early in the season if Zach Charbonnet ends up on the physically unable to perform list. Holani has shown flashes in limited chances over the last couple of seasons, and he could still open the year as RB2.
But RB1 is beginning to look like Price’s job.
The rookie out of Notre Dame didn’t start in college, either, because he was playing behind another strong back in Jeremiyah Love, who is now with the Arizona Cardinals. Both players are in the NFC West now, but Price is the one who appears to be attached to the better situation.
Through a week of camp, Price has already shown he can work as a receiver out of the backfield. He’s also made enough of Seattle’s defense look bad in practice to suggest the real thing could be even more dangerous. He brings burst and power, the kind of combination that brings to mind a healthy Rashaad Penny and Chris Carson.
Ernest Jones IV put it simply when talking about the rookie: "He's good, man."
That kind of praise matters more coming from Jones, who has seen enough talent in this league to recognize it when he’s lining up across from it every day. And Price hasn’t just flashed in clean situations. Social media has been full of clips showing him winning reps against his defensive teammates, even after the pads came on.
There’s always skepticism around running backs taken in the first round, since the position has a long track record of producing stars from later picks. But first-round backs are supposed to be different.
They’re supposed to look special right away. Price is already making that case.
If he keeps practicing the way he has to this point in camp, he looks set to open Week 1 as Seattle’s top back. That would make him a central piece for new offensive coordinator Brian Fleury, whose run-pass balance will depend on having the right runner in place.
The concern coming out of college was whether Price, like any rookie back, could hold up in pass protection and earn enough trust for a heavy workload. By the reports circulating now, he’s handled that part just fine. He’s also shown he can catch.
What comes next is the bigger test: proving he’s closer to Kenneth Walker than a depth piece. Walker left in free agency for the Kansas City Chiefs after four seasons as Seattle’s starter, and Price may be the player who helps Seahawks fans move on quickly.
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