With news that Kansas City Chiefs Wide Receiver Rashee Rice tore his ACL on Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers. However, that initial diagnosis may have been premature, so now there is a chance that Rice will return at some point this season. Yet, fans want a big-time wide receiver to fill the gap.
I’ve heard all the names; DeVante Adams, Tyreek Hill, Amari Cooper, and DeAndre Hopkins could all be traded before the November trade deadline. However, the Kansas City Chiefs’ decision to add such a high-profile receiver to the roster is problematic in many ways.
The biggest hurdle facing General Manager Brett Veach as he calls other teams is whether they will trade with the Chiefs. My guess is probably, but the price in contract and draft picks might exceed KC’s threshold of reasonableness.
We know that Adams and his agents are looking for a trade partner and would not be doing their job if they didn’t speak with Veach. Yes, Adams plays for their division rival, but the Las Vegas Raiders are a mess, and if they are going to go all in finding a young franchise quarterback, they need draft picks.
So, though unlikely, I can see a deal getting done. However, the price for the Chiefs might be higher than the New York Jets or New Orleans Saints. Still, at the heart of the issue, Adams is an aging player with a big base salary over the next two seasons, so he’d need to adjust his contract.
Doing so would go against the grain because he’s always valued money over winning. That’s not meant to be a jab; it’s just smart business if you have his talent. Still, at the twilight of his career and still capable of making plays, he might have to alter his line in the sand.
Hopkins is by far the best for the Chiefs, and his remaining salary this season is something Kansas City can fit under the cap for 2024. However, after dealing L’Jarius Sneed to the Tennessee Titans in the off-season, they’d probably want their 2025 third-round pick back. I can’t see Veach doing that.
Other names on the market include Cooper and Deontae Johnson, but one name that isn’t is former Chief Tyreek Hill. Kansas City traded him for a reason, and even though he’s stuck in quarterback hell in Miami, he just got a new deal that the Chiefs can’t absorb.
So what will the team do?
They could go with a cheaper option, with free agent receivers Hunter Renfrow or Michael Thomas, but what do they have left? Also, what are they asking for money-wise?
As much as fans want to see them grab another wide receiver, they likely will wait until after their Monday Night home game against the New Orleans Saints to make any moves. If that’s the case, all this talk is excellent for fans, but it’s a moot point.
Rashee Rice is scheduled to get another MRI on Monday to see if the rumors are true and to verify once the swelling subsides, he has no ligament damage. If that’s the case, he could return in November. If the image discloses even damage, it could range from two months to not all this season.
Additionally, once his court case is heard in June 2025, the NFL will likely levy a four-game suspension.
These are all factors the Chiefs’ brass must decipher and roll the dice one way or the other. So, I do not expect any moves until next week. That means they could elevate Nikko Remigio or Justyn Ross. In practical terms, Xavier Worthy and JuJu Smith-Schuster will likely get more opportunities to fill the gap left behind by Rice’s injury.
