Rashee Rice cannot keep out of trouble, and the Kansas City Chiefs are reportedly unwilling to sign him to an extension following his latest run-in with the law. Selected in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft, the SMU product developed an immediate connection with Patrick Mahomes and played a vital role in the team’s championship run. Starting in eight games while making 16 appearances, the wideout finished his inaugural campaign with 79 receptions for 938 yards and seven touchdowns on 102 targets.
Since then, Rice has been an invaluable part of the offense whenever he’s on the field. Throughout the course of his career, he has a 17-game pace of 95 receptions for 1,091 yards and nine touchdowns. Now entering his age-26 season and the final year of his rookie contract, players like Rashee Rice are usually top priorities for their respective organizations.
However, that is not the case for the embattled wideout. Despite his on-field success, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports the team is reportedly uninterested in extending the wide receiver. This makes sense, as Rice’s off-field shortcomings and inability to stay on the field make him a significant long-term risk.
Chiefs Unlikely to Extend Rashee Rice Any Time Soon
Rashee Rice has struggled to stay on the right side of the law for quite some time. Most of his off-field issues stem from a highway crash in March of 2024 when he drove his Lamborghini at 119 miles per hour and caused a multi-car pile-up. If this wasn’t bad enough, the wide receiver left the scene on foot without checking on the health of those impacted by his actions. This ultimately resulted in NFL and legal punishment, as the league handed out a six-game suspension, and he received five years’ probation after pleading guilty to two third-degree felony counts.
Unfortunately for everyone, Rashee Rice made more headlines when he failed a mandatory drug test. The SMU product tested positive for THC, and the court forced him to serve a 30-day sentence immediately. This shows an astonishing lack of responsibility, and nobody would blame the Chiefs for not wanting to make a long-term commitment to someone with such questionable decision-making.
While his legal issues are the biggest reasons for Kansas City’s unwillingness to commit to him, he also struggles to stay on the field. Rashee Rice ended the last two seasons on the injured reserve after tearing his LCL in 2024 and suffering a concussion in 2025. Injuries can be tough to avoid in a physical game like football, but it’s not a good sign that he’s missed extensive time in two of his three seasons.
The Rest of the Depth Chart
Even though they don’t want to extend him, the Chiefs will continue to roster Rashee Rice through the 2026 season. Kansas City has a weak group of wide receivers, and Rice is easily the most reliable name on the roster. Former first-round pick Xavier Worthy has yet to justify his draft capital, Tyquan Thornton is nothing more than a depth option, and nobody should put too much faith in untested options like Jalen Royals or Cyrus Allen.
Patrick Mahomes is returning from an ACL injury of his own and may not have his typical patented mobility, at least to start the year. This means that he’ll need more reliable pass-catching weapons, and the team doesn’t have any option beyond Rice. Travis Kelce is still a good player, but he has lost a step and is no longer the unstoppable force he used to be. Perhaps the Chiefs can re-invent themselves with a strong rushing attack led by reigning Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker.
Main Photo: Jay Biggerstaff – Imagn Images
