National grades are in

[D-train]

B- is about as close to being bad as most of these guys get. When they rank the draft we are usually in the mid to low 20s. So? I'd say the experts don't like it, but most of them also mention how we addressed needs and didn't have many holes to fill. Also many mention that we turned 4 picks into 8 and had the luxury of drafting guys that fit us and not worrying about draft rankings.

I happen to agree. As I've said before, I'm more worried about if the guys we took can help this team, not where some so called expert believes they should have been selected. If we still had Walker? Taking Price would have been dumb. We don't still have Walker and taking Price is not dumb.

And IF Zach was healthy then MAYBE we risk trading back to the high 30s or 40 to take Price. Just could not take that risk given the RB room was a pile of 2nd and 3rd tier backs.

[Michael K.]

Excellent point. Many thought we'd pay Walker because Charbo was out. I like where we are now better than paying Walker.

[douche]

Hey SH I bet if you buy a Hubbard Jersey now you can get it for cheap!

"The Seattle Seahawks signed Northwestern edge rusher Aidan Hubbard in undrafted free agency on Sunday. The Seahawks need help on the edge after losing Boye Mafe in free agency.

Hubbard was a four year contributor at Northwestern. He contributed 20.5 sack, 105 combined tackles, and 26.5 tackles for loss. Given his production, Hubbard could have a great chance of making the roster and seems like a steal in undrafted free agency."

[D-train]

Excellent point. Many thought we'd pay Walker because Charbo was out. I like where we are now better than paying Walker.

Yep price is only going to make 4 million a year for the next 4 years and then we have the fifth year option

[Michael K.]

There are just so many instances where paying the RB was the wrong move. It was why I wasn't that worried this off season when someone else paid Kenny.

I posted this earlier this off season, but probably worth repeating.

Saquon Barkley leads all NFL running backs in 2025 with an average annual value (AAV) of over $20 million, followed by Christian McCaffrey and Jonathan Taylor. For the 2025 season, the highest-paid RBs are largely determined by new, lucrative extensions aimed at boosting the position's

According to reported 2025 Average Annual Value (AAV) rankings, the top running backs are:

Saquon Barkley (Philadelphia Eagles): nearly missed the playoffs, 1st round exit

Christian McCaffrey (San Francisco 49ers): got their butts whooped by us in the second round after whooping Barkley's butt in the first round

Jonathan Taylor (Indianapolis Colts): missed the playoffs

Alvin Kamara (New Orleans Saints): missed the playoffs

Josh Jacobs (Green Bay Packers): lost in the first round

Aaron Jones (Minnesota Vikings): missed the playoffs

Joe Mixon (Houston Texans): team did alright losing in the second round, Mixon didn't even play a snap the entire year

James Conner (Arizona Cardinals): finished last in their division

David Montgomery (Detroit Lions): missed the playoffs

Rhamondre Stevenson (New England Patriots): lost the Super Bowl

So, only two of the ten got out of the first round, and one because they beat another. Half of them missed the playoffs, and one of those that did make the playoffs? That back didn't play during the season.

[douche]

There are exceptions, but isn't RB considered to be one of the easier positions to replace?

[Captain 97]

As has been pointed out him being a RB2 at ND is a positive. Less mileage. And it is not a small sample. He ran for 1692 yards on 280 carries for a 6.0 ypc and 24 TDs.


If you think of that as one 17 game season it is 16.5 carries per game and 1692 yards and TWENTY FOUR TDs.

Interesting way to look at it. Price had about a years worth of playing time total in his career at Notre Dame. Here is Price's Career at ND vs. Ken Walker's Last Season at Michigan State.

Carries- 280 to 263
Yards- 1692 to 1636
Y/C- 6.0 to 6.2
TDs- 24-18
Receptions- 15 to 13
Receiving yards- 162 to 89

Seems to me like the talent is there to be every bit as good as Walker was if not better. The only question for me is can he handle the pounding of being the bell cow for a full NFL Season. He has never really experienced the grind.

[D-train]

There are exceptions, but isn't RB considered to be one of the easier positions to replace?

Yes but this year was definitely a MASSIVE exception.

[D-train]

As has been pointed out him being a RB2 at ND is a positive. Less mileage. And it is not a small sample. He ran for 1692 yards on 280 carries for a 6.0 ypc and 24 TDs.


If you think of that as one 17 game season it is 16.5 carries per game and 1692 yards and TWENTY FOUR TDs.

Interesting way to look at it. Price had about a years worth of playing time total in his career at Notre Dame. Here is Price's Career at ND vs. Ken Walker's Last Season at Michigan State.

Carries- 280 to 263
Yards- 1692 to 1636
Y/C- 6.0 to 6.2
TDs- 24-18
Receptions- 15 to 13
Receiving yards- 162 to 89

Seems to me like the talent is there to be every bit as good as Walker was if not better. The only question for me is can he handle the pounding of being the bell cow for a full NFL Season. He has never really experienced the grind.

Great stuff. Regarding you last point....either has Walker...

[Michael K.]

Seems to me like the talent is there to be every bit as good as Walker was if not better. The only question for me is can he handle the pounding of being the bell cow for a full NFL Season. He has never really experienced the grind.

Great point. I imagine the Hawks limit his load a bit. McIntosh is an intriguing one to me. Curious how soon he is back to 100%. Condotta mentioned him in his article today about the roster. Saying he thinks, due to the injury, that Holani will be the 3rd down back to start.