Double trouble! Rams run defense now faces 2nd epic challenge twice a year

The 2026 NFL Draft has never had the top two running backs selected in an NFL draft come from the same college football program. Well, it just happened. Notre Dame elite running back prospect Jeremiyah Love was selected with the third overall pick by the Arizona Cardinals.

His teammate, running back Jadarian Price, was selected by the Seattle Seahawks with the 32nd overall pick. In the process, the Los Angeles Rams run defense suddenly finds itself facing a much tougher test four times a year for the foreseeable future.

To be fair, the Notre Dame running back run began in the 2023 NFL Draft by general manager Les Snead, whose selection of the Fighting Irish's rookie running back prospect Kyren Williams in Round 5 of the 2022 NFL draft introduced the NFC West Division to a fiesty overachiever.

After getting humiliated by Williams over the past four seasons, two Rams rivals decided it was time to fight fire with fire.

The Seahawks were expected to shop for running back help after losing veteran Kenneth Walker to free agency. Price was the consensus runner-up to love on many draft boards. The Seahawks wasted no time filling a huge void in their roster.

Rams run defense must face 2nd epic challenge to overcome twice a year

As powerful and explosive as Cardinals running back Jeremiyah Love may prove to be, the Seahawks landed the less explosive but more polished runner. Price is described as a "tempo-driven back with smooth hips, elite vision, and a nose for the end zone. Price is a more natural runner." Hoo boy. That's a rather impressive draft profile.

Still, defensive coordinator Chris Shula knows that after being shredded by Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley twice in 2024, he rallied his run stoppers to shut down Barkley in 2025. Despite Price's stellar write-up, he has not gained any yards in the NFL just yet.

Hopefully, LA's defense can keep it that way.

But the trend so far is unmistakable. NFL teams are back in love with running the football, and the NFC West is leading the charge to revitalize rushing offenses in 2026. Only the San Francisco 49ers have yet to participate in the trend, and they traded out of Round 1.

One thing is clear. LA's defense is going to be put to the test in 2026. Now the question is, can general manager Les Snead upgrade the troops in the last two days of the draft?

As always, thanks for reading.

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