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.

2. Zay Jones

Speaking of former enemies, Zay Jones might still have some juice. He was recently released by the Jaguars but is just two years removed from an 82-catch season for 823 yards and five TDs in Jacksonville.

Injuries limited him to just nine games in 2023, depreciating his value across the league. Brett Veach loves to take shots on former early-round draft picks, and Jones was a second-round selection back in 2017. He's bounced around the league plenty, but still can be an effective red-zone weapon in a pinch.

The same arguments about Renfrow hold true for Jones. You could sign him on a low-cost, one-year prove it deal and if things don't work out, no harm no foul. He did have a 10.7% drop rate in 2022, so I'd recommend a short leash.

Nonetheless, beggars can't be choosers at this point. If the Chiefs don't sign someone, the team might enter the regular season forced to heavily rely on Justin Watson, Skyy Moore, and Kadarius Toney, not to mention a rookie in Xavier Worthy.

It worked out just fine last year overall, though I'd feel more comfortable with an extra dart throw or two. Jones has been effective recently, making him a logical option.

3. Mecole Hardman

On one hand, Hardman fits the same kind of receiver mold as Hollywood Brown and Xavier Worthy, perhaps making his potential addition unnecessary. On the other hand, Hardman knows the offense, has earned Patrick Mahomes' trust and just had 57 receiving yards and the game-winning TD in the Super Bowl.

Neither Brown nor Worthy have ever played with the Chiefs. Do you really think it's a good idea to enter a season with your most experienced wide receiver in this offense being Skyy Moore? From a sheer familiarity standpoint, it's time to bring Hardman back home.

He's won three Super Bowls with the organization already. I have concerns about Hardman as a player, but I support keeping him in the locker room for the attempted three-peat.

Hardman has 20 career regular-season TDs as a Chief and and four in the postseason. His teammates rave about him and he'd help give Kansas City's offense the speed to challenge Miami's.

I'd expect the majority of targets, at this point, to go to Travis Kelce, Brown, Worthy, and Isiah Pacheco. You wouldn't need Hardman to touch the football that often, but his comfort in the system could help make those limited targets valuable ones.

Go ahead, Brett, let's bring the Super Bowl hero back.

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