3 Free Agent WRs the Chiefs Must Target After Shocking Rashee Rice Suspension Update

Chiefs Kingdom received a stunning piece of news on Wednesday when NFL's James Palmer reported that the organization expects WR Rashee Rice to be suspended for at least half of the upcoming season.

Most Chiefs fans expected a much smaller suspension, so this comes as a shock right after an impressive haul in the NFL Draft. If Rice does face such a lengthy punishment, Kansas City might need further reinforcements at wide receiver to ensure the offense doesn't struggle early in the campaign.

Drafting Xavier Worthy is a great start, but Rice has large shoes to fill. Let's look at three remaining free agent receivers the Chiefs could target following the suprising report.

3 Free Agent WRs the Chiefs Must Target

1. Hunter Renfrow

This isn't the first time we've pounded the table for the former Raiders' wideout, as Hunter Renfrow's precise route-running and physical play make him a great fit in Kansas City. The longer Renfrow remains available, the smaller the list of potential suitors gets. That drives down his value, so now is a perfect time to capitalize with a one-year contract offer.

Renfrow caught 103 passes for 1,038 yards and nine TDs in 2021. He's only 28 years old and could capitalize on a half-season worth of heavy work for a bigger deal next offseason. Of course, there's the gamble (as is with any of these receivers) that Rice's suspension winds up shorter. Even if that happens, I think a guy like Renfrow could still contribute, and there are worse things than playing for a Super Bowl contender for a year.

This wasn't even that long ago! I'm willing to chalk up Renfrow's lack of production over the last two years to a dysfunctional Raiders' organization. At the very least, the Chiefs could find out with a low-cost contract and just cut bait if things don't work out.

Kansas City struggled in the red zone last year and Renfrow is a proven threat in that area of the field. Rice is the Chiefs' possession receiver in a lot of ways. Hollywood Brown and Xavier Worthy are more speed threats, so Renfrow would be a better fit for some of those security-blanket throws.

If the price is right, I fully support poaching a former enemy and turning him into a friend.