Rashee Rice NFL Draft Overview
Position: Wide Receiver
Height: 6′-2″
Weight: 203 pounds
School: SMU
2023 NFL Draft: Rashee Rice Scouting Report
After spending his entire collegiate career with SMU, wide receiver prospect Rashee Rice has declared for the 2023 NFL Draft. The Senior is coming off the best season of his career, hauling in a team-high 96 receptions for 1,355 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Rice first made his collegiate debut in the 2019 season. Serving as a depth option as a Freshman, the receiver earned a larger role during his Sophomore campaign. Appearing in 10 games, Rice recorded 48 receptions for 683 yards and five touchdowns. He continued to improve in 2021, hauling in 64 receptions for 670 yards and five touchdowns.
Strengths
- Impressive catch radius – excels at adjusting to off-target passes;
- NFL-caliber playing strength – muscular build will translate to the next level;
- Adjusts speed during routes to keep defenders off their toes;
- Handled a high-volume role each of the past three seasons;
- Not afraid to take a big hit;
- Doesn’t take run plays off – bulldozes opposing cornerbacks as a blocker.
Weaknesses
- Cannot separate against press – lives his life with a defender on his back;
- No second gear – will not break off too many big runs;
- Concentration drops litter his tape – oftentimes looks for YAC before he secures the ball;
- Late declare – historically, not a good thing for wide receivers;
- Exclusively played the right sideline at SMU – no positional versatility;
- Doesn’t run a full route tree – limited at what he can do.
NFL Comparion: DeVante Parker
Teams With Need At Position: Baltimore Ravens, Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears, Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, Green Bay Packers, Jacksonville Jaguars, New England Patriots
Projection: Rounds 4-5
Bottom Line on Rashee Rice
Rashee Rice has a very limited skill set, but the right coaching staff should be able to find a use for him at the professional level. Rice’s best trait is easily his catch radius, as his above-average body control allows him to haul in off-target passes with ease. Additionally, while he’s no Ja’Marr Chase, he is above-average in contested situations and should be able to outmuscle smaller defensive backs at the point of attack. And if you’re a fan of the run game, you’ll enjoy watching Rice whenever the running back has the ball.
Unfortunately, Rice’s cons far outweigh his pros. Contested catch skills don’t translate too well to the NFL, as everyone at the professional level is bigger and stronger than collegiate competition. You need to have another calling card if you want a strong chance at success, and Rice doesn’t have one.
He runs a very limited route tree and always aligns on the right sideline, so he isn’t a versatile chess piece. He can’t get open against press coverage, so he’s doesn’t create easy targets. Rice also is a very pedestrian athlete with no deep speed, so he’s not a threat after the catch. And, to top it all off, he drops way too many passes.
There is a role for players like Rice in the NFL, but not as a featured receiver. Perhaps he proves me wrong, but from what I’ve seen, he’ll top out as the third or fourth option in a passing attack with some red zone upside.
Main Photo: Vasha Hunt – USA Today Sports
