Seahawks Wrap Round 1 With RB Jadarian Price
Two Notre Dame running backs will indeed come off the board in Round 1. Twenty-nine picks after Jeremiyah Love went to the Cardinals, his college backup will head elsewhere in the NFC West.
The Seahawks are taking Jadarian Price at No. 32 overall. Linked to the defending champions previously, Price is the second RB off the board in this class.
John Schneider, who has traded down in six separate first rounds over his first 15 drafts, expressed interest in doing so again. But Seattle was tied to Price late in the pre-draft process. With Kenneth Walker departing for Kansas City in free agency and Zach Charbonnet suffering an ACL tear in the divisional round, Seattle opted to ensure a high-end RB talent would arrive.
This marks the third time in five drafts the Seahawks have chosen a first- or second-round back, with Walker coming in 2022 and Charbonnet in ’23. Schneider also drafted Rashaad Penny in the 2018 first round. One season remains on Charbonnet’s rookie deal, but given the timing of his injury, a stay on the PUP list to start next season seems likely.
Playing second fiddle to Love all three years of his time in college, Price still made a name for himself by rushing for 1,692 yards and 21 touchdowns over his three years in South Bend. He averaged six yards per carry over the course of his career. Scouts saw Price maintain that maximum efficiency while operating on only 6.8 carries per game, keeping his legs much fresher than those of Love. Although Price did not offer much in the passing game compared to his dynamic RB mate, he enters the NFL on just 280 career carries. That will stand to help his NFL longevity, provided this pick pans out.
Seattle added ex-Green Bay RB Emanuel Wilson on a low-cost deal in free agency, but the runway appears clear for Price to team with Charbonnet. It is quite possible Price and Wilson will be the defending champs’ top RB tandem during the first half of the season. Charbonnet will need to display good form upon returning to fetch a notable free agency deal. While that injury represents poor timing for Charbonnet, Price stands to provide premium insurance while having a path toward a long-term Pacific Northwest stay (as this contract includes a fifth-year option for 2030).
Titans Obtain No. 31 From Bills, Select DE Keldric Faulk
Make that three first-round trade-downs from the Bills. This time, Buffalo has traded out of Round 1. The Titans are moving up to No. 31.
The Titans will send Nos. 35, 66 and 101 to the Bills in exchange for Nos. 31, 69 and 105, ESPN’s Field Yates tweets. Tennessee drafted edge rusher Keldric Faulk out of Auburn. The Bills moved from No. 26 to 28 to 31 to 35, accumulating some picks following their D.J. Moore trade (which cost a second-round pick).
Faulk will join a gaggle of ex-Jets defensive lineman in Tennessee. Robert Saleh has acquired Jermaine Johnson and Solomon Thomas via trade while signing John Franklin-Myers and Jacob Martin in free agency. The Faulk plan certainly appears to be a starting role alongside Johnson, Franklin-Myers and Pro Bowl D-tackle Jeffery Simmons.
This draft slot is in line with where NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah placed him on his big board, which slotted the Auburn pass rusher 29th. Faulk is much bigger than Johnson, who is barely 250 pounds. The SEC product weighed in at 276 pounds at the Combine, where he measured 6-foot-5. He will be an interesting complementary piece to the former Saleh first-round Jets draftee (Saleh and then-Jets GM Joe Douglas traded back into Round 1 to draft Johnson in 2022).
As our Ely Allen noted in his PFR mock draft, Faulk “isn’t your typical potential-without-production prospect. It’s not that he looks the part and has the physical tools but just can’t put it together on the field; he is just, seemingly, always right around the play, disrupting it, but hardly ever the one finishing it. The 21-year-old has plenty of room to grow.” Saleh also may find use for Faulk as an inside rusher from time to time, as the Tigers deployed him as such at points.
Faulk did tally seven sacks as a sophomore in 2024, but he only totaled two last season. After 11 tackles for loss in 2024, Faulk produced only five in ’25. Tennessee is changing schemes, moving to a 4-3 defense after years in a 3-4 alignment. The team let Arden Key walk in free agency and will count on Johnson and now Faulk picking up the slack alongside Simmons and Franklin-Myers, who signed a three-year deal worth $63MM to come over from Denver.
Jets Collect No. 30 From 49ers, Draft WR Omar Cooper Jr.
Another pass catcher will follow Kenyon Sadiq to the Jets. The team traded up (via the 49ers) to add Indiana wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr.
The Jets are trading Nos. 33 and 179 to the 49ers, who have moved down a second time tonight. San Francisco previously slid down three spots to No. 30 via Miami. The 49ers join the Bills in trading out of Round 1 tonight. Buffalo made three trade-down moves; San Francisco made two.
More to come.
Chiefs Select DT Peter Woods At No. 29
The Trent McDuffie trade’s top asset will go toward Kansas City’s defensive line. While the Chiefs had been connected to defensive ends leading up to the draft, Chris Jones instead will see a running mate headed to Missouri.
Clemson defensive tackle Peter Woods is heading to the Chiefs at No. 29.
More to come.
Patriots Acquire No. 28 From Bills, Draft T Caleb Lomu
This draft has not let down on a reported run of offensive linemen. After trading back a second time, the Bills cleared the way for the Patriots to add a tackle.
Buffalo sent No. 28 to New England in exchange for Nos. 31 and 125 (via ESPN’s Field Yates); the Patriots are drafting Utah’s Caleb Lomu.
More to come.
Dolphins Acquire No. 27 From 49ers, Draft CB Chris Johnson
After trading back with their first pick tonight, the Dolphins are moving up three spots from their second first-round window.
Miami will send Nos. 30 and 90 to San Francisco. The Dolphins are selecting San Diego State cornerback Chris Johnson at No. 27. The 49ers will acquire the pick the Broncos sent to the Dolphins for Jaylen Waddle.
More to come.
Bills Trade No. 26 To Texans; G Keylan Rutledge Heading To Houston
The Bills agreed to move back two spots, with the Texans coming up to No. 26. Buffalo will collect Nos. 28, 69 and 167 from Houston in exchange for Nos. 26 and 91, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Georgia Tech guard Keylan Rutledge is going to Houston at No. 26. We heard earlier today the Texans had done a lot of work on Rutledge, and he will be part of the AFC South team’s ongoing O-line overhaul.
More to come.
Bears Add S Dillon Thieneman At No. 25
The Bears will walk out of the first round with a safety prospect. Oregon’s Dillon Thieneman is heading to Chicago via the No. 25 overall pick.
More to come.
Browns Draft WR KC Concepcion At No. 24
Entering the draft pegged as wanting a tackle and a wide receiver in Round 1, the Browns have checked both boxes. After choosing Spencer Fano, Cleveland added KC Concepcion at No. 24.
More to come.
Cowboys Add DE Malachi Lawrence At No. 23
The Cowboys have now added two defenders in Round 1. Trading up for Caleb Downs, Dallas moved down three spots (via Philadelphia) and added Central Florida edge rusher Malachi Lawrence at No. 23.
More to come.