Back in 2023, it looked like the Kansas City Chiefs had struck gold again. Rashee Rice looked like a superstar in the making, and his chemistry with Patrick Mahomes brought back hope of having a true WR1 for the first time since Tyreek Hill left.
From that moment on, Rice has been hurt, suspended, or has fallen short of expectations. That's why, now that he's facing yet more turmoil off the field, the Chiefs need to start planning their exit strategy and some alternatives for their passing game.
The Chiefs Can't Afford to Let Rashee Rice Hold Them Back Again
Rice already faced a six-game suspension for his implication in a multi-car crash in 2024. Now, Chiefs insider Charles Goldman of A to Z Sports reports that, as a repeat offender, he could be looking at a harsher punishment from the league next season:
"It remains to be seen whether Rice is found to have violated the NFL’s personal conduct policy again, but it’s worth noting that the league mandates harsher punishment for repeat offenders," Goldman wrote.
Even if that weren't the case, Rice's tape from the 2025 campaign was far from impressive. He finished the season with 53 receptions on 78 targets for 571 yards and five scores, posting a career-worst 67.9 percent catch rate. He was also missing in action in the biggest games of the season, suggesting he might not have what it takes to be a true alpha.
The Chiefs will likely explore possibly bringing Tyreek Hill back, but they cannot possibly hope he'll be as good as he was at this point in his career. He's aging and coming off a season-ending injury.
Xavier Worthy has yet to break out and is looking more like a bust than an actual star. To add insult to injury, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Marquise "Hollywood" Brown, and Tyquan Thornton will all be free agents this offseason.
According to Over The Cap, the Chiefs are still $11.3 million over the cap. They can free more space by restructuring the contracts of Chris Jones and Trey Smith, while releasing Jawaan Taylor. That could leave them some wiggle room to sign a noteworthy free agent.
Kansas City would probably be better off pursuing someone like Jauan Jennings, Romeo Doubs, or maybe even giving Mike Evans a short-term contract. Rice poses too much of a risk, and the results haven't necessarily been there when he's been on the field.
Using the No. 10 pick to get Jordyn Tyson would probably be a bit of a reach, given his injury concerns. That said, they could trade down and still get promising prospects like Makai Lemon, Denzel Boston, or K.C. Concepcion. Maybe they could even go after Kenyon Sadiq.
This team needs to provide Mahomes with a better supporting cast to lead the franchise back to the mountaintop. They've always been high on Rice's potential, but availability is the best ability, and he clearly cannot be trusted to stay on the field.