Kansas City Chiefs WR Rashee Rice is entering the final year of his rookie contract in 2026. Her burst onto the scene in 2023 with 79 catches for 938 yards and seven touchdowns as a rookie. The Chiefs thought they had their replacement for WR Tyreek Hill they'd been longing for after Hill left for the Miami Dolphins. However, injuries and multiple run-ins with the law contributed to Rice only playing 12 games in the next two years combined.
Since Rice was a second-round pick, they don't have a fifth-year option that they have on 2024 first-round pick WR Xavier Worthy. Rice's contract-year offseason didn't begin well after he failed a drug test, which was a violation of probation. He had since undergone cleanup surgery on his knee and had to rehab it during a 30-day jail sentence.
Rice has yet to participate in team drills in training camp while rehabbing his knee. Rookie WR Cyrus Allen has been the talk of camp, and that could absolutely have an impact on whether the team looks to extend Rice.
The Chiefs have long been a frugal team. Most of the reason why Hill ended up with the Dolphins was because the team refused to pay top-of-the-market money to keep him. Rice won't command that kind of cash, but with salaries skyrocketing, he's in a great position to cash in with a good 2026.
The 2027 market of free-agent receivers isn't very deep right now. Dallas Cowboys WR George Pickens headlines the class with aging Los Angeles Rams WR Davante Adams and Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Chris Godwin also slated to hit the market. Rice would be 27 that offseason and would easily be among the top targets available for a team to throw a big deal at. The franchise tag is also an option, but Pickens is making $28 million on it in 2026, and that's not something the Chiefs are likely going to be able to fit in the salary cap.
