Which Team Could Pick Rashee Rice in the 2023 NFL Draft?

SMU Mustangs wide receiver Rashee Rice put together a career season in 2022, seeing his draft stock drastically rise throughout the process.

Rice embodies the physicality of an NFL WR1 with a 6-2, 203 pound frame. While he has the size and the speed, NFL scouts have slight concerns with the consistency of his hands and his route-running abilities.

Where will Rice be drafted and which team could scoop up the big-bodied playmaker? 

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What Did Rashee Rice Do In His College Career?

Rashee Rice played four seasons at Southern Methodist, improving upon his numbers each year. 

He absolutely exploded in 2022, grabbing 96 catches for 1,355 yards and 10 touchdowns in the high-flying Mustangs offense.

Rice was the go-to target for quarterback Tanner Mordecai, making a living off of 50-50 jump balls.

Rice offers big-play ability as well, nabbing a career-long 75-yard touchdown grab in the 2022 season.

Which Team Could Pick Rashee Rice In The 2023 NFL Draft?

As a prospect, scouts are unsure where to grade Rice. As of right now, he could go anywhere from the middle of the first round all the way to the third round. His Senior Bowl performance was underwhelming due to his inability to create separation.

Despite this potential flaw, Rice will have plenty more opportunities to prove that he belongs in the first round prior to April’s draft. With a strong combine performance he could rise into the first.

The Chicago Bears have been mentioned as a team who could target Rice in the draft. They have demonstrated a clear need for a receiver, although they may want to nab a better route runner than Rice since they already have a big-bodied guy in Equanimeous St. Brown.

Other potential landing spots include the New Orleans Saints, Baltimore Ravens, and New England Patriots. All three teams are receiver-needy and would offer Rice the opportunity to shine early on in his career. 

If Rice lands in a spot where he could start immediately such as one of these four teams, he could pick up where he left off at SMU. He will be an interesting player to monitor as the NFL Draft process continues on, as he is one of the players with the highest volatility in terms of where he could be selected in the draft.

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