Chiefs Rumors: Rashee Rice is slowly earning Patrick Mahomes' trust
Another NFL season, another year of Chiefs wide receivers struggling to break out on the field. Things just haven't been the same since the Tyreek Hill trade.
In 2022, JuJu Smith-Schuster appeared primed to win the WR1 spot only to become one of the most unreliable targets throughout the season. In 2023, Kadarius Toney.... well, everyone knows how that narrative played out.
Instead of Toney or Skyy Moore growing into Patrick Mahomes' favorite wide receiver, rookie Rashee Rice has been steadily carving out a role for himself in a high-volume Chiefs passing offense.
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler said of the second-rounder, "Rice's profile could continue to grow in the Chiefs' offense coming out of Thursday's night's win over Denver." Rice caught four passes on four targets for 72 yards in Week 6's victory against the Broncos.
Fowler added that Rice is "building chemistry with Patrick Mahomes and earning trust."
Through six weeks, Rice's targets haven't fluctuated too much; he's averaging 4.5 targets per game. For fantasy owners, Rice is at best a low-end flex option. For the Chiefs, however, his weekly consistency is starting to paint a clearer picture of a crowded Chiefs pass-catching corps. Travis Kelce reigns at the top with the most targets, catches, yards, and touchdowns on the team, but in the wide receiver unit, Rice leads all other position players in those categories.
When Mahomes will be looking for a target out wide this season, chances are Rice will be on the receiving end of the ball.
Chiefs Rumors: Hollywood Brown, Darius Slayton among WR trade targets in 2023
The Eagles just signed Julio Jones, arguably for the vibes more than anything else. Who might the Chiefs sign to improve their wide receiver room mid-season?
Arrowhead Addict's Grant Tuttle named seven realistic trade targets for the Chiefs ahead of the October 31 deadline, and a few wide receiver options might catch some fans off-guard.
Broncos' Courtland Sutton and Jerry Jeudy landed on the list to no one's surprise. Denver is expected to open up shop in late October, and those two players could bring in sizable compensation.
If the Chiefs don't want to give up a lot of draft capital, cheaper trade targets include Cardinals' Hollywood Brown and Giants' Darius Slayton. Slayton would join Kadarius Toney and Richie James in the "Giants Rejects Club" in Kansas City and probably wouldn't command more than a fourth-rounder.
Hollywood Brown presents a more intriguing option assuming Arizona is interested in trading him in the first place. The ex-Ravens wideout has 29 catches for 334 yards this year, often serving as one of Josh Dobbs' most reliable deep threats. Tuttle suggests the following as draft compensation:
"A second-round pick and a conditional fifth seem like a good deal for both sides. The Cardinals get two more young players on the roster for next year as well as some ammunition for trading up in the draft. The Chiefs get a playmaker that takes their offense to a higher level immediately."
No reports have been made on Browns' availability ahead of the deadline. Maybe Brett Veach could give the Cards a call, anyway.
Chiefs Rumors: Steelers snatch rookie corner Darius Rush from KC practice squad
As first reported by NFL's Tom Pelissero, one of the Chiefs' rookies is getting poached by an AFC team. The Pittsburgh Steelers are expected to sign cornerback Darius Rush off the practice squad.
The move comes after the Steelers announced their plans to trade or release veteran corner Desmond King.
Rush actually visited Pittsburgh before the 2023 NFL Draft and was one of several cornerbacks the Steelers expressed interest in this past April. The Colts ended up drafting the South Carolina product in the fifth round, but Rush never made the 53-man roster. Earlier this year, Kansas City added him to the practice squad to allow him to develop his skills and gain more experience; however, his time with the Chiefs has been cut short.
The Steelers will see if Rush, a speedy outside corner who thrives in man coverage, can make an impact in their defense in 2023.