By TOMMY REZAC
St. Joseph Post
The Kansas City Chiefs started off their night in the NFL Draft by adding some receiver help.
After losing top targets Juju Smith-Schuster and Mecole Hardman in the offseason, the Chiefs used their second pick of the 2023 draft to select wide receiver Rashee Rice out of Southern Methodist University.
Kansas City traded up with Detroit to get Rice at 55th overall in the second round. The Chiefs traded their 63rd pick in the second round to the Lions, along with a fourth and seventh round pick.
The Chiefs also gained a sixth round pick in the trade.
Rice accounted for 96 receptions, 1355 yards and 10 touchdowns in his senior season, earning second-team AP All-American and first-team All-American Athletic Conference accolades in 2022. His 96 grabs were the fifth most of any receiver at the FBS level.
"You're getting a playmaker and a guy who really wants to be a part of the Chiefs' program," Rice told reporters Friday. "Chiefs Kingdom, we're going to go win another Super Bowl."
Rice said he worked out with Patrick Mahomes in Texas this past offseason. Mahomes then reportedly told Chiefs ownership after those sessions to "go get him."
Rice is also a former SMU teammate of Chiefs backup quarterback Shane Buechele.
"We're just ready to make some plays like we did at SMU," Rice said.
Rice's profile on NFL.com reads, "Talented, but enigmatic receiver with game tape that shows a lack of consistency and impressive ball skills. Rice has enough top-end speed to attack vertically, but has a tendency for nonchalant running on intermediate routes and zone-beaters underneath."
"In one game, you might see terrific ball-tracking and jump-ball victories followed by frustrating drops and a lack of physicality in fighting back on contested catches. The route inefficiencies can be cleaned up, but Rice must play with better consistency and urgency to find long-term NFL reps."
The Chiefs will pick 95th in the third round on Friday and will have six more picks to made in rounds 4-7 on Saturday.