After trading up with the Detroit Lions, the Kansas City Chiefs used pick No. 55 to select SMU WR Rashee Rice.
It was the worst-kept secret in the 2023 NFL draft that the Chiefs had their eyes on the wide receiver position. After a run on the top talent in the class in the early goings of Round 1, Brett Veach opted to move up to go get a player that they were comfortable with.
First of all, the trade compensation seems spot on. I think it was a good deal for both teams. Next, it clearly hits a position of need for Kansas City and it comes at a time before the position group really starts to drop off.
He’s coming off of the most productive season of his career at Southern Methodist, but there are going to be some concerns about the level of competition that he faced with regularity. My big fear about Rice is his ability to create separation at the next level. He ran a 4.5 40-yard dash at the combine and he struggled in 1-on-1 drills at the Senior Bowl during the pre-draft process and it makes me think he might not be as far in his development as one might hope.
