Once again, Rashee Rice has made negative headlines off the field and ended up in jail. The Kansas City Chiefs should now draw a line under this and part ways with the talented wide receiver. A commentary.

Before the 2023 draft, Rashee Rice was considered a promising prospect in a strong class of receivers.

At the time, he was selected in the second round by the Kansas City Chiefs, in the hope that he could become a reliable target for star quarterback Patrick Mahomes in the long term.

In his first season, the plan paid off in full: Rice racked up 938 receiving yards and seven touchdowns, finishing as the Chiefs’ second-leading receiver, just behind tight end Travis Kelce.

Those are impressive numbers for a rookie season—especially considering that head coach Andy Reid used the wide receiver very sparingly in the first half of the season and only let him play significantly more snaps in the second half.

Rashee Rice: Negative Headlines Time and Again

However, Rice was never able to replicate his performance from the season’s final stretch. Instead, negative headlines followed: In March 2024, the wide receiver caused a multi-car pileup on a highway in Dallas and fled the scene; in May of the same year, he allegedly injured a photographer at a nightclub in Dallas.

In February of this year, Rice was also reported by his former partner, Dacoda Jones, for alleged domestic violence. Apparently, he hasn’t learned his lesson.

The 26-year-old tested positive for cannabis and must now serve 30 days in jail for violating his probation terms. To make matters worse, Rice just recently underwent another knee surgery after suffering a serious injury in 2024 that ended his season after just four games.

Originally, the receiver would likely have been back on the field in about two months—but behind bars, his rehab is likely to be a much more protracted process.

Kansas City Chiefs: Rashee Rice is a ticking time bomb

No matter how quickly Rice returns to the field for the Chiefs, he remains a ticking time bomb.

His rookie contract expires after the upcoming season. Then the Chiefs will have to decide whether they want to continue planning with him. He has already announced that he wants to spend his entire career with the franchise.

Despite his numerous scandals, Rice made bold claims during an Instagram Live in February, insisting he wants to earn as much as top-earning receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who signed a four-year, $168.6 million extension with the Seattle Seahawks.

Comparing the two players’ statistics from last season, this demand is laughable, especially since “JSN” is two years younger.

In three years in the NFL, Rice has played in only 28 of a possible 51 regular-season games. Whether this rate will improve is completely up in the air. As much talent as he has, the Chiefs haven’t been able to rely on him as much as one would expect from a first-round pick.

After a disappointing preseason and missing the playoffs for the first time since 2014, the franchise must ask itself which players it can count on for the future. Rice shouldn’t be one of them.

Rashee Rice: Trade as a Last Chance for the Chiefs

This leaves the team with two options: either keep the receiver on the roster and let him become a free agent, or look for a trade partner.

The latter is likely the last chance to get a halfway decent return for the former second-round pick. The Chiefs should seize this opportunity before it’s too late.

As a replacement, veteran Stefon Diggs is still a top receiver on the market who could immediately serve as a reliable target for the returning Mahomes. Additionally, a potential return of Tyreek Hill to Kansas City doesn’t seem out of the question.

Both would provide immediate reinforcement, at least in the short term, before the franchise can focus on long-term solutions next season.