Rashee Rice faces eight felony charges in reference to a hit-and-run incident earlier this yr; the second-year Chiefs wideout has since been accused of punching a photographer within the face at a nightclub. On top of that, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio notes teams were aware a previous incident — while Rice was at SMU — ahead of last yr’s draft. Believing former SMU basketball player Kendric Davis was seeing his girlfriend, Rice and others attended a Mustangs basketball game. Rice or a member of his party, per intel gathered through the pre-draft process, fired multiple bullets into Davis’ automobile, which was empty on the time. The Chiefs, who’ve displayed a quite high tolerance for off-field issues, selected Rice fifty fifth overall in 2023 and saw him fare well through the team’s Super Bowl LVIII-winning season.
The incident at SMU didn’t produce a police report, Florio adds, however it would factor into any potential punishment Rice receives under the NFL’s personal conduct policy. The Chiefs are bracing for a suspension. While Rice is facing the eight felony charges, he remains to be viewed as a key a part of Kansas City’s offense. The promising wideout attended the primary phase of Kansas City’s offseason program virtually.
Here is the most recent from the wideout landscape:
- The Chiefs joined the Cardinals, Titans and Cowboys in meeting with Zay Jones last week. While the recent Jaguars cut ended up signing with the Cardinals, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler adds he was also curious about joining the Chiefs. Jones landed a one-year deal price as much as 4.25MM. Rice’s issues are likely spurring the Chiefs on the receiver front, as they’ve already signed Marquise Brown and traded up in Round 1 for Xavier Worthy. A Rice suspension will not be a lock to start through the 2024 season, however it definitely could. It appears the Chiefs are preparing a contingency plan, though the free agent market is clearly thin at this point.
- Certainly one of the opposite receivers recently taken off the market, Odell Beckham Jr. joined Jones in signing a one-year deal. The Dolphins closed a lengthy back-and-forth with the veteran goal, giving him a $3MM deal. But OBJ could see that figure greater than double through incentives. The Dolphins must finish as a top-20 offense to trigger any Beckham escalator, per SI.com’s Albert Breer, however the yardage totals are achievable. Beckham would earn $400K for reaching 566 yards (his 2023 Ravens total), one other $800K for 650 and a further $1MM for 800 yards. Just 36 receptions would produce a $400K payment, with 45 and 55 catches respectively representing the $800K and $1MM triggers on the catch front. Payments of $400K and $450K are respectively in place for 4 and 6 touchdowns.
- Brian Daboll said (via the Recent York Post’s Ryan Dunleavy) the team’s Allen Robinson addition doesn’t have any bearing on the situation with Darius Slayton. The team’s leading receiver in 4 of the past five seasons, Slayton is staying away from Giants voluntary offseason work in pursuit of an adjusted contract. Slayton’s two-year, $12MM deal does include a totally guaranteed salary ($2.6MM) this yr, however the sixth-year pass catcher is aiming for more. Robinson, who’s coming off three consecutive down seasons, received the veteran minimum (with just $25K guaranteed) to sign.
- Alex McGough spent all of last season on the Packers‘ practice squad, re-emerging within the NFL after winning USFL MVP honors in 2023. The Packers are giving the veteran reserve QB an unusual task this yr. They’ve moved McGough to receiver, Matt LaFleur said recently (via Pro Football Talk’s Charean Williams). McGough worked as a receiver during practice at points last season. The Packers are team No. 5 for the 2018 Seahawks draftee. Green Bay used McGough as its third QB last season. It appears Tulane’s Michael Pratt, a seventh-round pick, has a good shot to be the passer behind Jordan Love and Sean Clifford this season.
