Draft Analysis: Rashee Rice

March 22, 2023 /
  • Height: 6’0″
  • Weight: 204 lb
  • College: SMU
  • Tape watched: Navy, Houston, Maryland, Cincinnati, UCF
  • College Comparison: Jakobi Meyers

Pros

  • Production

With a steady increase in production each year of college, including a senior year of 96 grabs, over 1,300 yards, and ten touchdowns, Rashee Rice has proven production you can trust. Experience and output like Rice’s shouldn’t be overlooked just because he played in the AAC.

  • Blocking

Rashee Rice is one of, if not the best blocking receiver in the draft. He can make an immediate impact in the run and screen game. Rice shows extreme drive power when he gets his hands clamped on defenders.

Get this man some syrup
  • Toughness

Rice has played 34 games in three collegiate seasons, missing 0 games for injury over his last two. He is a hard-nosed receiver who is not afraid of contact or extra effort.

Midline

  • Hands

Concentration drops and contested catches gave Rice his fair share of difficulties. He isn’t overly exciting in the air or adjusting to the football. He is best on the sidelines and when he has clean separation to extend for the ball.

  • Route Running

Rashee Rice route running tape is very up and down. He has too many plays with half-effort and routes he doesn’t stick his foot in the ground and use his burst. He is explosive enough to become more consistent in this area. His best route is the outside breaking comeback route. Rice does a great job of chasing the defenders inside shoulder and waiting for them to show their backs. Rice’s throw-by move is excellent.

Rice is top of the screen. Uncertainty showed up quite a few times.
The great throw-by mentioned above. Rice sheds defenders back to the ball quickly.
  • YAC

YAC is an area most are split on with Rice. I see the promise in his abilities to find space and make plays with the football, but I feel he lacks true lateral agility to make defenders miss and create more opportunities for himself. Rice does run well behind his pads and is tough to tackle.

Cons

  • Aggressiveness

A solid-built, explosive athlete should dominate at the catch point, specifically through the air. I did not see this consistently from Rice. His release off the line of scrimmage and his route breaks also lack purpose and aggression.

  • Offensive Scheme

SMU historically produces gaudy passing numbers due to the widespread air attack offense they run. With 5 receiver sets, stacks, and quick plays, Rice benefited from confused defenses and a LOT of space that he did not necessarily create himself. An NFL offense will have a lot more checks at the line, choice routes post-snap, and a more detailed route tree. Can Rice seamlessly transition?

Overview

Rashee Rice is a highly athletic (9.60 RAS, shoutout to @MathBomb on Twitter) and a highly productive receiver. He does most everything well from a receiver standpoint. His main question marks will be his transition to an NFL offense and his ability to separate with route running. Rice’s great combine performance lends him a ceiling that looks something like what Brandon Aiyuk has become.