NFL Trade Rumors: "At Least" Multi-Game Suspension Expected for Kansas City Chiefs Wide Receiver Rashee Rice

The Kansas City Chiefs may have a glaring new need in this week's NFL Draft. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Chiefs could target a wide receiver in the first round as embattled wide receiver Rashee Rice faces "at least" a multi-game suspension over his legal issues.

Some NFL draft week intel from days of phone calls:https://t.co/xDcxo3ourM
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 22, 2024

Rice is facing eight charges due to his involvement in a multi-car collision in the Dallas area last month, including one count of aggravated assault and one count of collision involving serious bodily harm.

Typically, the NFL lets the legal process play out in matters like Rice's, so it could be a long time before the promising young pass catcher faces league discipline. Given the nature of the crime, it also seems unlikely the NFL will implement a soft ban by placing Rice on the Commissioner's Exempt List, which means he'll likely be allowed to play until his situation is resolved.

Any impediment to Rice's availability or development is an absolute disaster for the Chiefs. After being taken 55th overall in the 2023 NFL Draft, Rice was a rookie revelation for the Super Bowl champions in 2023, leading all Chiefs wide receivers in receptions (79), receiving yards (938), and receiving touchdowns (7).

Rice eventually missing time will inevitably leave the Chiefs desperate for pass catchers, so getting ahead of that problem now with a high pick makes sense. Unfortunately, that may be easier said than done: Before Rice's breakout year, the Chiefs spent second-round picks on Mecole Hardman in 2019 and Skyy Moore in 2022, and neither has exceeded 693 yards or 59 receptions in a season. Rice will be very difficult to replace.