Rashee Rice replacements: 5 NFL WRs Chiefs should target ft. Amari Cooper

Rashee Rice was injured in the first quarter of the Chiefs' win against the Chargers in a nasty-looking incident. While trying to stop an interception return for a touchdown, the wide receiver ran into Patrick Mahomes' helmet, hyperextending his knee. He was taken off on a cart to the locker room and was X-rayed before being ruled out. Head coach Andy Reid later revealed that it did not look good.

With Isiah Pacheco and Hollywood Brown also long-term casualties, the Chiefs might need to bring someone to cover for Rashee Rice. Despite the brilliance of Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, they need another receiver to compete on their depth chart. Here are some of the players they can target to cover for Rashee Rice if, as expected, he is out for a while.

Potential Rashee Rice replacement for the Chiefs

#1 - Amari Cooper

Amari Cooper has started poorly this season and Cleveland Browns fans are already calling him out for it. Over four games this year, he has just 148 yards and two touchdowns, both of which came against an equally poor Giants team. The Browns are 1-3 for the season and the wide receiver might decide that he does not need to be blamed for their poor offense and also play for a team that has a legitimate chance at winning the Super Bowl.

A good choice in that case would be the Kansas City Chiefs. With Rashee Rice injured, he could come in to do a job for a year. It would be similar to how Marquez Valdes-Scantling picked up the slack when Tyreek Hill left the organization. He would be an experienced backup and trading for him would also allow the Browns to get some draft compensation as they look to rebuild, yet again, for the future.

#2 - DeAndre Hopkins

DeAndre Hopkins might be another candidate who might be looking to play for one last team that can allow him to compete for a championship. In the first two games, he had one reception each and accumulated a grand total of 17 yards. Against the Packers in Week 3, he somewhat turned it around with six catches for 73 yards and one touchdown but that too was in a losing effort.

The Titans are 0-3 for the season and do not look like they will compete this year. They might be willing to trade away their star wide receiver so that they can receive draft compensation and build for the future.

#3 - Michael Thomas

The Chiefs might decide that they do not want to pay draft compensation for a short-term replacement. Rashee Rice is still a young wide receiver who will be part of the organization's future going forward. In that case, Kansas City will have to look into free agency.

Michael Thomas could be a good option here. He was at one point one of the best receivers in the league but he has not been the same since his injury in 2021 that caused him to miss the entire season. Last year, he had 448 yards in 10 games, which is not great, but he has experience playing for a quarterback like Drew Brees and will relish the opportunity to link up with Patrick Mahomes.

#4 - Hunter Renfrow

Rashee Rice was quietly becoming Patrick Mahomes' number one weapon on offense not named Travis Kelce. Hunter Renfrow is another free agent wide receiver who can come in but he does not have the same profile as the injured Chiefs player. In 2023, he just had 255 yards in 17 games and no touchdowns.

But he is a solid performer and had 1,038 yards just a couple of years back in 2021. The Las Vegas Raiders have not had good quarterback play or offensive coaching for the past two years and Andy Reid might back himself to bring out the best in him again.

#5 - Jalen Reagor

Philadelphia Eagles picked Jalen Reagor in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft. A highly-touted prospect coming out of college, he has failed to live up to expectations in the NFL. That has seen him bounce around the league, also playing for the Vikings and the Patriots. With New England, he was on the practice squad until the beginning of this season and is now in the same role with the Los Angeles Chargers.

He still has the raw potential to succeed in the league and with pickings slim in the free agency and trade options limited, Andy Reid might think that Jalen Reagor is his next project, whom he can fashion into a great offensive weapon to replace Rashee Rice. Reagor is still young and getting him this season and allowing him to show his worth could also mean that Kansas City has a player for the future.