The draft room in Seattle was buzzing with anxiety, and for good reason. The Seahawks, known for their aggressive pursuit of running back talent, had just secured Notre Dame's Jadarian Price with the 32nd overall pick. But the real drama unfolded in the moments before their selection.

As the first round neared its end, a flurry of trades reshuffled the board. Five of the six picks leading up to Seattle's spot changed hands, including Tennessee's move to No. 31. That had the Seahawks' war room on edge, with some fearing the Titans were jumping ahead for Price. But the bigger concern? The San Francisco 49ers, sitting at No. 33, were rumored to be eyeing the same player.

It's no secret that Seattle loves to stockpile running backs, especially after losing Kenneth Walker to the Kansas City Chiefs. Price, a backup at Notre Dame, was a popular mock draft target, so his first-round selection wasn't a shock. But according to ESPN's Brady Henderson, the Seahawks' decision was partly driven by fear that their division rivals would snatch him up first.

The 49ers, meanwhile, had their own draft-day narrative. After trading down twice, San Francisco selected Ole Miss wide receiver De'Zaun Stribling—a pick that drew criticism for being a round too early. Former Niners GM Scot McLoughlan defended the move, but the chatter only grew louder. Imagine the discourse if San Francisco had used its first pick on a running back instead.

Seattle's concerns may have been based on faulty intel. 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan later revealed that the team had Indiana's Kaelon Black ranked as their RB2, not Price. So either the Seahawks misread the room, or they used the 49ers' threat as a convenient excuse to justify staying put rather than trading back.

Either way, the pick worked out for Seattle—they won the Super Bowl, and in the NFL, that silences all critics. For now, the Seahawks can breathe easy, knowing their top choice is safely in the fold.