Seahawks' Jadarian Price has sneaky path to Offensive Rookie of the Year award originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Seattle Seahawks came into the 2026 NFL Draft with a huge need at running back, and while it might've been earlier than some expected, they took Notre Dame's Jadarian Price at the 32nd pick in Round 1.

Seattle now has their new running back, and with Kenneth Walker III gone and Zach Charbonnet coming off a torn ACL, Price is poised for some heavy usage right away.

ESPN's Ben Solak believes that, despite being underrated with fellow Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love getting all the hype, Price has a sneaky real chance to win the NFL's Offensive Rookie of the Year award this upcoming season.

Jadarian Price is sneaky OROY candidate in 2026

"Price has a strong path to serious candidacy," Solak writes. "... On a Seahawks team that figures to lead many games, he could accumulate second-half touches and put together a highly productive campaign."

While Love might be the top running back around the NFL from this year's rookie class, Price might have the better odds to win the OROY award thanks to a far better situation.

Price will be the Seahawks' starting running back and only needs to compete with George Holani and Emmanuel Wilson for touches to begin the year while Charbonnet is out.

If he can get 15-20 touches per-game, with some receiving work and plenty of rushing attempts, the Seahawks running back might be in store for a massive rookie season.

More: Seahawks extend Jaxon Smith-Njigba to record-setting $168.6 million deal

While he didn't get a ton of volume at Notre Dame behind Love, Price still ran for 674 yards and 11 touchdowns while going for 87 yards and two touchdowns in the receiving game.

Seattle will be giving Price plenty of work, as they need to make their first-round pick worth it. Combined with a good situation on a great team that should be leading, and with a lot of focus on Jaxon Smith-Njigba and the receivers, Price could have a sneakily good season.

Solak believes Price has a decent chance to win the Offensive Rookie of the Year award this season, ranking him as the fourth-most likely player behind Love, Fernando Mendoza, and Carnell Tate.

More Seahawks news:

• Rashid Shaheed for $51 million might be an overpay for the Seahawks

• Cooper Kupp is Seahawks most overpaid player

• Seahawks match Jaguars offer sheet to bring Jake Bobo back to Seattle

• Seahawks trade idea would net Myles Garrett in Super Bowl favorites move