Wide receiver Rashee Rice delivered for the Kansas City Chiefs in a big way this year, helping the team win their second consecutive Super Bowl. For much of the year, the offense was talked about for all of its mistakes. The team had the most drops in the NFL, and the receivers made other mistakes, such as lining up off offsides, that cost the team games.
Throughout the year, the team was looking for another playmaker to step up, and the rookie from SMU delivered in a big way. Rice finished the regular season with 79 catches for 938 yards and seven touchdowns after being selected in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft. In the playoffs, he set a rookie record with 26 catches, including six in the Super Bowl.
While it was safe to say the Chiefs are happy with his play this year, what made the team draft him?
Rashee Rice Puts Up Big Numbers at SMU
Rice played his college football at SMU, where he played from 2019-2022. In his freshman season, he had 25 catches for 403 yards and one touchdown.
He showed potential in the next two years, as he had 683 and 670 yards, respectively, but it wasn’t until his senior season that he took his game to another level.
In his senior campaign, he had 96 catches for 1,355 yards and 10 touchdowns. He was named first-team All-AAC, and he entered the NFL Draft. Before being drafted, though, he went and performed at the NFL Combine.
Combine Numbers Provide Teams With Intriguing Potential
Rice is a strong and powerful wide receiver at 6’1″, 203 pounds. His physicality was something that stood out in college, as he was able to win a lot of 1-on-1 matchups with his strength. He is a physical specimen, both when it comes to his strength and his athleticism.
He had a 41″ vertical but a 10’8″ broad jump. These numbers weren’t surprising to the scouts, as those two traits were something he had shown a ton in college. However, it was the speed he was able to show at the combine that showed his true potential.
In the 40-yard dash, he was able to run it in 4.51 seconds. That is very good for a receiver, but it was his 10-yard split where he put up his best performance. He ran that in 1.49 seconds, which was among the fastest times in that year.
What Is Next for the Second-Year Player?
Ask anyone in Kansas City, and it is safe to say that Rice exceeded his expectations. The team in the middle of the season was desperate for another receiver to step up and take some pressure off Travis Kelce.
He was good early in the year, but he emerged as a legitimate No. 1 option for the Chiefs. This offseason will be very telling on how high the team views his potential.
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If they make a move for a star-caliber receiver, it may show they view him as a high-ceiling No. 2 receiver. However, if they keep the moves minor or bring in some rookies in the NFL Draft, they may view him as a guy who can end up a true No. 1 receiver in the NFL.
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