When two running backs from the same college backfield go in the first round of the NFL Draft, the comparisons are inevitable. That's exactly the situation for Notre Dame's dynamic duo—Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price—who both heard their names called early in the 2026 draft. Love went third overall to the Arizona Cardinals, a flashy pick for a team desperate for star power. But it was the Seattle Seahawks who landed Price at No. 32, and according to one former Seahawks architect, that might have been the smarter move.

Scot McCloughan, a key figure in building Seattle's first Super Bowl-winning roster during the Pete Carroll and John Schneider era, isn't shy about his confidence in Price. In a recent interview with The Athletic, McCloughan didn't just praise the Seahawks' pick—he made a bold prediction. "And you wait and see, bud," McCloughan said. "I'm telling you: Price is going to be a better player than Love. I think he's Nick Chubb, who we took in Cleveland and who was really, really good until he blew his knee out."

That's high praise, comparing a rookie to a four-time Pro Bowler. McCloughan's assessment came during a broader discussion about draft decisions across the NFC West, where three of the four teams used top-90 picks on running backs. The division is suddenly stacked with backfield talent, and this year's storylines will likely revolve around which rookie emerges as the true star.

McCloughan also weighed in on the San Francisco 49ers' surprising third-round selection of Indiana's Kaelon Black. He wasn't impressed, giving Black a fifth-round grade and calling him a "solid backup" at best. "He just doesn't have the 'it' factor," McCloughan said. "Everything's above average, but nothing is really good. And he split time (in Indiana's backfield). And that coach (Curt Cignetti) is not going to split time if they've got a legit back."

For Seahawks fans, the message is clear: the team may have found a gem at the end of the first round. While Love brings explosive potential to Arizona, McCloughan believes Price has the complete package to outshine his former teammate. If he's even close to the player Chubb was in his prime, Seattle's backfield just got a whole lot more dangerous. And in a division where every yard matters, that could make all the difference.