Seahawks' Jadarian Price projected by ESPN to beat Jeremiyah Love in key stat in 2026

After losing Kenneth Walker III in free agency, the Seattle Seahawks had a clear need at the running back position with Zach Charbonnet out to begin the year.

They went out and signed Emmanuel Wilson in free agency, but the real new starter is first-round running back Jadarian Price out of Notre Dame. He went at No. 32 overall while Jeremiyah Love, also out of Notre Dame, went No. 3 to the Arizona Cardinals.

Love playing better than Price in year one would not be a surprise at all. However, ESPN's Mike Clay projected a different result for their respective rookie seasons, with Price besting Love in a key statistic in their rookie seasons.

Jadarian Price projected to beat Jeremiyah Love in key RB stat

"Jeremiyah Love, Arizona Cardinals: 1,129 yards, 7 TDs. Jadarian Price, Seattle Seahawks: 915 yards, 8 TDs," Clay projects.

Even though Price is projected to fall short of Love's rushing yard total in 2026 by 214 yards, he is projected to score more touchdowns in 2026 than Love.

Thanks to the Seahawks' run-friendly offense and the expectation that they'll be up in games and willing to give Price plenty of work, it wouldn't be a surprise if he had a good season.

But for the Notre Dame starter to score one fewer touchdown than Price in their rookie seasons would be a notable difference.

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With Price on a good offense on a great team, and Love on a shaky offense on a bad team, it wouldn't be a surprise for Price to get more goal-line work this season.

Clay also projects Love to score two receiving touchdowns and Price one receiving TD to have both Notre Dame backs finish with nine touchdowns from scrimmage on the year.

But, strictly looking at rushing production, Price is projected to have one more score than Love. If Price could match, let alone beat Love's touchdown total this upcoming season, it would be a big win for the Seahawks' No. 32 pick versus the Cardinals No. 3 pick.

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