Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice faces a looming suspension after pleading guilty to a pair of felony charges, leaving the team with a big decision on how to replace him.
Rice pleaded to two charges related to a street-racing incident, putting him in line for an NFL suspension for violating the personal conduct policy. While the league has wide latitude to discipline players, Rice’s exact suspension is not known but is expected to be significant.
In the meantime, the Chiefs could have a few options to replace Rice’s production including a pair of wide receivers who were otherwise expected to fall on the wrong side of the roster bubble.
Chiefs Expected to Spread Targets During Rashee Rice’s Suspension
While the Chiefs could potentially look to free agency to bring in a veteran for some extra help, Nick Roesch of AtoZ Sports suggested that the team will look to its current wide receiving corps to pick up the slack.
He noted that fourth-round pick Jalen Royals could take on a bigger role but added that the Chiefs typically bring rookie wide receivers along more slowly. Veteran JuJu Smith-Schuster could end up not only earning a spot on the final roster, but playing a big role during Rice’s expected suspension.
“Before the news about Rice’s sentencing came out, I listed Smith-Schuster as a potential cut candidate ahead of Week 1,” Roesch wrote. “However, Rice’s likely incoming suspension could give Smith-Schuster a little more security. Smith-Schuster’s biggest advantage is being the most experienced WR on K.C.’s roster.”
Skyy Moore, who was considered a fringe roster candidate after struggling for the Chiefs, could also get a leg up in the competition for a roster spot.
“He also brings experience as a kick returner,” Roesch wrote of Moore. “However, at the end of the day Moore has to put it all together on the field, which he’s yet to be able to do. Training camp and preseason will be Moore’s last gasp, but Rice’s pending suspension have made things a bit easier for him.”
Punishment Looms for Rashee Rice
While the NFL took no action as Rice’s trial made its way through the courts, the league could soon be poised to act and Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio predicted that Rice’s willingness to cooperate with the league could determine the severity.
“Rice will be suspended. The challenge in figuring out the right number comes from the lack of precedent,” Florio wrote. “How many games for something like this? Thereâs no past case guiding the outcome.”
Florio wrote that Rice could cooperate with the league and get a lower suspension, but a more adversarial approach — like the one Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson took — could lead to a longer punishment.
“Given that Rice seems to be willing (as he should be) to accept the consequences of his behavior, he should be willing to accept whatever suspension the league wants,” Florio wrote. “Our guess (and itâs just a guess) is that the league will propose 10, Rice will propose six, and theyâll settle on eight.”
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