Awaiting news of Rashee Rice‘s sentence, the Kansas City Chiefs are holding their breath. In the wake of a multi-car pileup resulting from street racing on a Dallas freeway earlier this month, Rice turned himself in to police, and the NFL is considering what to do about him. The 2024 draft kicks up in Detroit on Thursday, thus Kansas City’s draft preparations may be affected by this incident this week.
As we approach a season in which Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid want to lead the Chiefs to an unprecedented Super Bowl three-peat, it appears that the NFL is getting close to deciding on and revealing Rice’s penalty.
Expect a multi-game suspension for Rashee Rice
According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, Rice will likely face numerous game suspensions when the 2024 NFL season kicks off this autumn. The allegations against Rice, which include six counts of collision resulting in bodily injury and one count of aggravated assault, are being taken very seriously by the league, and commissioner Roger Goodell is getting ready to take appropriate action.
🚨🚨REPORT: #Chiefs star WR Rashee Rice is expected to serve at least a multi-game suspension from the #NFL, ESPN reports.
Would be a major loss for Kansas City. pic.twitter.com/DVqtWJGRPw
— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) April 22, 2024
In light of the fact that the NFL may confirm Rice’s punishment this week and that he may miss numerous games to begin the following season, the cap-constrained Chiefs may decide to select a different young wide receiver either on the first or early second day of the 2024 selection. Mahomes has previously voiced his respect for Xavier Worthy of Texas, who broke the record in the 40-yard sprint at this year’s combine.
“[Rashee] Rice is expected to be disciplined by the NFL, resulting in at least a multi-game suspension.” https://t.co/wdu0cPw6fo
— Jared Smola (@SmolaDS) April 22, 2024
In what has unexpectedly become one of the most intriguing offseason stories, Rice could face a sizable fine from the NFL in addition to the punishment that local authorities and prosecutors are pursuing. Depending on how much time Mahomes‘ preferred wideout misses, this could alter the AFC’s power dynamics.