Rashee Rice is not only pursuing the highest sporting goals. He also wants to reach the very top in terms of salary. His role model has a season full of awards behind him.

This season is the season for Rashee Rice. Because 2026 is his contract year. The second-round pick of the 2023 draft is still playing under his rookie contract, which is worth a total of almost 6.5 million US dollars.

However, he missed out on a good chunk of this sum because he was suspended by the NFL for six games at the start of last season. The reason: a serious accident with several injuries during an illegal car race, which even earned him a short prison sentence.

As a result, he lost around 420,000 US dollars in potential salary. Depending on your lifestyle, that can really hurt. However, the Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver is thinking in much bigger dimensions for the future anyway. In a Tiktok livestream, Rice stated his goal of earning as much as Jaxon Smith-Njigba in the future and spending his entire career with the Chiefs.

“JSN” had become the top earner among wide receivers just a few weeks ago with his contract extension with the Seattle Seahawks. Over the next four years, he can earn up to 168.6 million US dollars, i.e. 42.15 million US dollars per season. He is said to be guaranteed around 120 million US dollars. All top values for the position.

Rice takes “JSN” as a role model: Seahawks receiver also highly decorated

The 24-year-old from the Seattle Seahawks earned the deal primarily thanks to his performance on the way to the championship in February, which earned him the title of Offensive Player of the Year and a call-up to the First-Team All-Pro. With 1793 receiving yards, he eclipsed all of his position mates. He caught ten touchdowns in the regular season.

In the three playoff games, he added another 199 receiving yards for two scores, with 153 receiving yards alone coming in the close NFC Championship Game against the Los Angeles Rams (31-27). So the record deal seemed only logical.

Rice, on the other hand, who is expected by many experts to play a dominant role in the Chiefs offense alongside Patrick Mahomes  – as soon as he is fit again – has racked up 571 receiving yards for five touchdowns in his eight appearances. This means the 2023 rookie season remains his strongest year with 938 receiving yards and seven touchdowns; in 2024, he only made four appearances due to a hamstring injury.

Rice off the pitch: second suspension averted by NFL

He is not only making headlines in sporting terms. The NFL was once again about to punish him for violating league regulations. An investigation into allegations of physical violence made by his ex-girlfriend concluded that there was “insufficient evidence to determine that he violated the code of conduct”.

However, these incidents are also likely to play a role when the Chiefs and the Rice camp sit down to discuss further cooperation. After all, any further missteps could be punished with a compulsory break. And the money saved would not help “KC” with the run to the next Super Bowl either.

Written by Michael