One of the bigger questions arising for the Kansas City Chiefs throughout the 2025 season is the future of Rashee Rice. The star receiver is in the third year of his rookie contract and will finally be eligible for an extension. One that the Chiefs should be anxiously awaiting to give him, understanding that the longer they wait, the higher the price is going to go. The past two seasons, Rice has been unable to cement his place among the league's elite. Some of this has been well within the pass catcher's control, while last year's season-ending injury was obviously not.
However, Rice made an awful choice that resulted in a six-game suspension to start this season. With this in mind, the receiver's numbers are going to be far below his ability in back-to-back seasons. This is evidenced by the fact that Rice already has 486 yards and 5 touchdowns on the season despite missing such an extended period.
Kansas City has a chance to make a savvy move and strike early before Rice has the best seasons of his career. It is clear that the receiver is elite running after the catch and is going to quickly become one of the league's most productive pass catchers. This makes it paramount that the Chiefs strike as soon as this season ends and lock up the talented star.
Chiefs Cannot Afford to Let Another Season Pass Without Locking up Receiver Rashee Rice
Looking around the rest of the league, it seems likely that the Chiefs could sign Rice to a deal with an average annual value of around $20-25 million. This is only if Kansas City and GM Brett Veach can quickly reach an agreement on a deal at the end of this season and benefit from the time that Rice has missed. For the receiver, the reasons to sign are simply the future security and injury insurance, as well as the chance to chase another Super Bowl.
Amon-Ra St. Brown, Terry McLaurin, A.J. Brown, and DK Metcalf have all signed recent extensions that are worth well over $30 million. If the Chiefs opt to wait out the contract of their star receiver, this is the territory that they will find themselves in, if they aren't already. Signing Rice earlier allows you the opportunity to save cap space and create a level of future flexibility.
The longer you wait, the higher the price is going to go, not only based on an ever increasingly high market, but the immense talent of your star receiver. Rice is only scratching the surface of his potential based on missing the bulk of the 2024 season and the start of the 2025 campaign.
Everything about this year sets up the Chiefs to benefit from locking up its top playmaker, and it seems very on brand for a franchise that isn't going to let the talent of Rice continue to be a rising cost.