Chiefs Pushed to Trade for $12 Million Rashee Rice Replacement Right Now
With starting running back Isiah Pacheco already sidelined, the Kansas City Chiefs suffered a major blow on Sunday, losing No. 1 wide receiver Rashee Rice to a serious-looking knee injury.
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid told reporters on Monday morning that the team was still conducting tests. However, it’s feared the 2023 second-round pick is dealing with a potential season-ending ACL injury, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
In its Week 5 “NFL Team Needs” roundup on Monday, Bleacher Report pitched a worthwhile receiver the Chiefs should consider trading for “now” to fill the void left by Rice.
“Adding to the receiver room would be an obvious way to improve the offense,” Bleacher Report’s scouting department wrote. “Darius Slayton is taking a back seat to Malik Nabers for a 1-3 New York Giants team and playing on an expiring contract. That makes him a potential trade target. His speed and experience could add an explosive element to the offense.”
Slayton, 27, is in the final season of the two-year, $12 million contract he signed with the New York Giants in March 2023.
A fifth-round draft pick by the team in 2019, Slayton has accumulated at least 700 yards in four of his first five NFL seasons. While he hasn’t scored in four games this season, the 6-foot-1 Auburn product has 19 career touchdowns to his name.
Without Rice, Kansas City’s receiving corps is left with rookie first-round pick Xavier Worthy, former Pro Bowler JuJu Smith-Schuster, Justin Watson, Skyy Moore and Mecole Hardman.
“Patrick Mahomes came into the week ranked 21st in Total QBR and the Chiefs were just outside of the top 10 in offensive DVOA,” B/R added. “That explosiveness is going to be even harder to come by with Rashee Rice likely out for the season.”