Rashee Rice celebratingRashee Rice (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images)


The Kansas City Chiefs put their selection shrewdness on display in the 2023 NFL Draft, picking a wide receiver who is making a name for himself as he’s helped them win another Super Bowl. While Rashee Rice had an excellent rookie season, he’s also found himself in some offseason legal trouble.

As it happens, the Chiefs have been here before and are not unfamiliar with troublesome wide receivers.

Just last season, Justyn Ross was suspended after an arrest for domestic battery and criminal damage to property. Ross, who went undrafted in 2022, had hoped to make the best of a situation that put him on the same team as Patrick Mahomes, but off-field troubles made that difficult.

The Chiefs also had to navigate troubling circumstances pertaining to Tyreek Hill as the Miami Dolphins star was accused of a child abuse incident in which his son suffered a broken arm five years ago.

The news broke on draft weekend, leaving the Chiefs in a precarious position as they couldn’t have known that his ex-fiancee, Crystal Espinal, had lied and that charges would be dropped.

It’s why the team opted to take Mecole Hardman in the first round.

Rashee Rice Has Left the Chiefs with A Lot To Consider

They’re now in a similar situation with Rashee Rice as there’s no telling how things will play out for the rookie wide receiver, with the draft now weeks away. They were already in need of more receiving talent even before the Rice incident, so it leaves them with a lot more to think about.

Rice’s lawyer has since put out a statement in which he claims the wideout is cooperating with police.

The team will hope things can be dealt with as quickly as possible as the situation is likely to have a direct impact on their draft plans for 2024.