Andy Reid says Rashee Rice's legal issue won't affect Chiefs' approach at receiver

Blair Kerkhoff, The Kansas City Star on Feb 20, 2026

Published in Football

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. — For all the speculation about selecting a defensive lineman or running back with the ninth overall pick in the NFL draft, the Chiefs may find themselves in need of a boost in another area — wide receiver.

The Chiefs have six players at that position under contract for 2026, and only three of them — Xavier Worthy, Rashee Rice and Jalen Royals — caught a pass last season.

Among others who played, Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, Tyquan Thornton and JuJu Smith-Schuster are unrestricted free agents, and Nikko Remigio is an exclusive-rights free agent.

But it’s not just that. A civil suit filed against Rice by the mother of his two children for abuse this week could add to the uncertainty of the position group.

Kansas City head coach Andy Reid said Rice’s situation doesn’t change the team’s approach to shaping the position for the 2026 NFL season.

“I would tell you, no, not right now on this,” Reid said.

Rice led the Chiefs wide receivers in 2025 with 53 receptions despite playing in just eight games. He was suspended for the first six under the NFL’s conduct policy for his role in a 2023 car crash.

Brown was second with 49 catches in 2025, followed by Worthy with 42.

Will the Chiefs re-sign any of their free agents, and does a wide receiver become a possibility with the team’s first draft pick? General manager Brett Veach will continue to sort through the options next week at the NFL combine in Indianapolis.

“Brett’s already got his guys digging in on things,” Reid said. “There’s a million different options of things you have to look at. A lot of moving parts going on.”