The Chiefs have a big decision to make about Rashee Rice. Things are getting intense for the 25-year-old as he struggles with yet another off-field controversy. This time, it’s out of bounds, as the NFL insider has revealed exactly where the organization stands on its future with him.

“If you’re the Chiefs, it’s very difficult to talk about these things. You never want to say, obviously, the wrong thing and be disrespectful,” NFL insider Dan Graziano said at the Combine on Wednesday. “So now, if you’re the Chiefs, it’s not about a value judgment on how he behaves off the field. It’s more about, is this guy going to be consistently available to us? And if he’s not, how do we commit money to that?”

Right now, what matters most to Kansas City is a simple question. Will Rashee Rice be available to suit up for them in the upcoming season? If the answer is no, then the Chiefs face a very difficult decision about one of their most talented pass-catchers.

Rice is expected to miss at least “six games” and “possibly a lot longer than six games,” per Graziano. NFL insider Nate Taylor also added that Rice’s next suspension could range anywhere from “10 to 12 games.” That is the storm the Chiefs are quietly navigating as the new league year approaches.

To understand just how serious that is, look back at the 2025 season. Rice missed the first six games after violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy. It was because of a 2024 incident in Dallas where he was involved in a multi-car crash. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 30 days in jail and five years of probation.

His unavailability created a big void and impacted the team’s overall record. In the eight games Rice played in 2025, he accounted for 14.4% of the team’s total targets and a staggering 424 yards after catch. He was the only receiver on the roster capable of turning Patrick Mahomes’ short passes into explosive gains. Without him, the offense’s efficiency dropped significantly.

Per reports, the Chiefs’ success rate on passing plays dropped by nearly 12% when Rice was sidelined compared to when he was on the field.

That absence also left Mahomes without his best weapons at the worst possible time. Xavier Worthy also dislocated his shoulder in a collision with Travis Kelce in Week 1 and missed multiple games. The domino effect forced Mahomes to lean heavily on his legs. The quarterback rushed for a career-high 422 yards and five touchdowns. 

The career-high 422 rushing yards Mahomes logged were out of necessity. When Rice is on the field, his average of 10.8 yards per reception gives a breathing space for the quarterback. Without that reliability, the Chiefs’ offense looked unrecognizable, leading to their first losing record (6–11) in over a decade.

Rice returned in Week 7 against the Raiders, but the season ended on a sour note. He missed the final three games due to a concussion, finishing the year with 53 receptions for 571 yards and five touchdowns in just eight games. ​

What makes that more troubling is that 2025 was not an isolated case. In the 2024 season, Rice played just four games, catching 24 passes for 288 yards and two touchdowns before suffering a season-ending knee injury after colliding with Mahomes in Week 4. In two seasons, he has played a total of just 12 games.

The pattern (both on and off the field) raises serious questions for the Chiefs heading into the next season. Kansas City desperately needs stability at the wide receiver position after a 6–11 season that knocked them out of the playoffs for the first time since 2014. But Rice’s mounting issues make it increasingly difficult for the franchise to justify bringing him back.

Rashee Rice’s off-field troubles complicate an already messy cap situation

Rashee Rice is facing serious accusations from his former girlfriend, Dacoda Jones, who filed a civil action in Dallas County, Texas. She is seeking more than $1 million in damages, per CBS Sports. 

Jones accuses Rice of physical altercations with her multiple times over 18 months between 2023 and 2025. The Chiefs organization has acknowledged the matter.

“The club is aware [of the lawsuit] and remains in communication with the National Football League,” the Chiefs said in a statement.

If the NFL opens a formal investigation, the Chiefs will have yet another major item added to an already crowded offseason agenda. The franchise is currently busy restructuring its salary cap, having already reworked Patrick Mahomes’ deal to free up $43.56 million in space. So, the last thing they need is another prolonged disciplinary process hanging over their roster.

From a financial standpoint, Rice is still on his rookie deal, a four-year, $6.49 million contract he signed in 2023. He is set to carry a base salary of $1.56 million and a cap hit of $2.06 million in 2026, per Spotrac. 

That is not a significant number for a player of his talent level, and the Chiefs have already shown they are willing to adjust it. They trimmed $1.26 million from his 2025 salary as part of his suspension penalty last season. In terms of cap consequences, cutting Rice would result in less than $500,000 in dead money. ​

But the real question is not about money. It is about what kind of team the Chiefs want to build. Do they hold onto a receiver with elite ability who cannot stay on the field when needed? Or do they move on and find someone who brings fewer highlights but far greater reliability?