Let’s be honest, 2024 was not a good year for Rashee Rice. The Kansas City Chiefs’ top receiver going into the season faced off-field troubles and a season-ending injury on the field. Still, he pushed through both challenges and is ready to elevate the Chiefs’ offense to a new level.
There’s no doubt Rashee Rice is one of the top young wide receivers in the NFL. He’s entering his third year in Kansas City after a stellar rookie season and a disappointing second year.
When the Chiefs won Super Bowl LVII, it was clear that Rashee Rice’s contributions were essential; without them, they might not have beaten the Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills, Baltimore Ravens, and San Francisco 49ers.
So, heading into 2024, expectations were high for Rice. However, an off-the-field incident has resulted in charges, but no firm court date has been set. Additionally, civil lawsuits may be filed regarding the accident itself. Even today, neither case is scheduled for a hearing in 2025 and might not occur until next year.
That could help Rice play the entire year in a Chiefs uniform without a suspension interruption. Now, it’s possible a deal could be made for Rice to serve that suspension this season, but there’s no evidence that’s in progress.
Assuming he’s good to start the season, he will enter the season opener against the Los Angeles Chargers as the team’s top receiver. However, he’s not the only playmaker at that position.
Xavier Worthy and Hollywood Brown form an excellent group of receivers, one of the top in the NFL today. Still, Rice remains the key to the Chiefs’ offense regaining its rhythm.
All reports indicate that Head Coach Andy Reid and quarterback Patrick Mahomes are focused on revitalizing their high-powered offense. Rice is the pivotal player expected to lead that charge. Fully recovered from his knee surgery last season, he has already demonstrated glimpses of his rookie form.
Last season, Rice learned a few lessons, mainly off the field. He had to make significant changes, and he welcomed them. Now he’s ready to pick up where he left off at the start of the 2024 season before his injury.
Mahomes has already praised Rice for his strong performance in off-season workouts. Based on the limited video footage and his private sessions, he is entering camp in full health.
This is a crucial year for Rice, who will start 2026 in the final year of his rookie contract. The Chiefs have specific priorities to keep their core intact, but will they offer Rice a big paycheck? He’s arguably a top-ten receiver and rightfully deserves a lucrative deal.
The question for him and the Chiefs in getting that done indeed depends on his performance this season. As the Chiefs work toward a deal with Trey Smith, they also need to secure contract extensions with Trent McDuffie and George Karlaftis, both of whom will become free agents after the 2026 season.
That means General Manager Brett Veach needs to loosen the purse strings to prevent four high-profile players from becoming free agents.
Rice doesn’t need to think about a new contract this year, but it will be a hot topic in the off-season. The SMU star has shown that when he’s on the field, he can be a game-changer.
If he hadn’t been injured last season, the Chiefs’ offense would have performed better and scored more points. That shows how vital Rice is to the offense. That’s why he needs to get paid before next season.
