Rashee Rice ‘Has Long Way to Go' Before Chiefs Offer Contract Extension

Kansas City Chiefs receiver Rashee Rice is heading into the final year of his rookie deal, but it's not a foregone conclusion that he'll be offered a contract extension.

Rice set the bar high during his 79-catch, 938-yard, seven-touchdown rookie year, but things he's had two disappointing seasons since.

Injuries cut his 2024 season short (he was limited to just four games after suffering an LCL tear in his knee after an accidental collision with quarterback Patrick Mahomes. He played just eight games last season after missing the first six games of the year while serving a suspension for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy.

Rice's injury issues and legal trouble are just wo reasons why Jessee Newell of the Athletic believes Rice has his work cut out in trying to convince the Chiefs he deserves a contract extension next offseason.

"Rice is in the last year of his rookie deal, and he has a lot to prove this season," Newell wrote. "He struggled with drops and availability a year ago, and he also needs to prove he can go a calendar year without ending up in negative offseason headlines.

"With a good year, could the Chiefs talk themselves into an extension? It's at least possible, but there's a long way to go between that potential reality and where things sit now."

Kansas City drafted Cyrus Allen in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL draft over a week ago. It also signed his Cincinnati teammate Jeff Caldwell, who's been compared to former Detroit Lions legend Calvin Johnson, as an undrafted free agent.

If the Chiefs don't bring Rice back, that leaves 2024 first-round pick Xavier Worthy (101 catches, 1,170 yards, seven touchdowns in two seasons), Tyquan Thornton (19 catches, 438 yards, three TDs in 2025), and 2025 fourth-round pick Jalen Royals as the team's top three wideouts.

KC has been linked to San Francisco 49ers All-Pro WR Brandon Aiyuk in the last week, and the team could target Rice's replacement in the 2027 draft that's loaded with top-end WR talent including Ohio State's Jeremiah Smith, Alabama's Ryan Coleman-Williams, Texas' Cam Coleman and Ryan Wingo, Indiana's Nick Marsh and Charlie Becker, and Clemson's T.J. Moore.

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This story was originally published May 7, 2026 at 8:04 PM.