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Henry McKenna
AFC East Reporter
The Kansas City Chiefs thought they had their guy when they drafted Mecole Hardman. And then when they drafted Skyy Moore. And then when they traded for Kadarius Toney.
The Chiefs offense has never been in any serious trouble since they traded receiver Tyreek Hill before the 2022 season. But they have been looking for the next guy ever since. Obviously, they were never going to find Hill’s one-for-one replacement. But Kansas City hasn’t even come close to replacing him, even though those three receivers profile with plenty of similarities to Hill’s game: smaller, agile, elusive and fast, fast, fast.
That’s what they seem to have wanted. But you know what they got?
*cue the music*
Just what they needed.
Rookie receiver Rashee Rice might be a taller and slower wideout, but he is starting to do what Hardman and Moore and Toney could not. The 6-foot-2, 203-pound Rice, a second-round pick out of SMU, is acting like the Chiefs’ WR1. In the postseason, he leads the team in receiving yards (177) and is tied with Travis Kelce for receptions (12) and targets (16). Rice has one postseason touchdown to Kelce’s two.
During the regular season, Rice led Chiefs receivers in targets (102), catches (79), yards (938) and touchdowns (seven).
“He’s got a great relationship with Pat, and they talk through things,” coach Andy Reid said about Rice’s relationship with Patrick Mahomes. “He’s all ears. He’s willing to work at it. He’s willing to listen. A lot of guys just turn off the veterans, but he wants to absorb all of that and take it all in.”
It’s rare for a rookie to produce like Rice is.
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Source link : https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/rookie-rashee-rice-proving-to-be-chiefs-answer-to-wr1-void
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Publish date : 2024-01-24 20:45:49
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