With the 2026 NFL Draft just weeks away, the noise around who the Kansas City Chiefs will take at No. 9 on April 23 is only getting louder. While there are multiple needs across the roster, the early signals suggest Brett Veach could lean toward a wide receiver, especially with the team actively meeting top prospects.

For context, after sitting down with Carnell Tate at the NFL Scouting Combine, Ian Rapoport reported that Kansas City hosted Makai Lemon from USC Trojans as part of their top-30 visits.

This isn’t necessarily about a glaring hole, but more about uncertainty. The current room featuring Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy, and Tyquan Thornton comes with enough question marks that adding another piece early is very much in play.

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That’s where Lemon becomes interesting. The 21-year-old started his college career splitting time between receiver and cornerback before fully transitioning to offense in his sophomore year. He put up 52 catches for 764 yards and three touchdowns in 2024. But it was his 2025 jump that really changed the conversation.

He finished that season with 79 receptions for 1,156 yards and 13 touchdowns. In the process, he also earned All-American honors and the Fred Biletnikoff Award. Even without participating in the Combine, his measurables and a reported 4.47-second 40-yard dash at USC’s pro day kept him firmly in the top-tier discussion.

A top-30 visit doesn’t lock anything in, but it does show intent. And when you look at the current production, the logic tracks. The logic for drafting another receiver tracks when you consider the current room’s underwhelming production: Worthy had a frustrating 2025 season with just 532 yards, Thornton provided minimal impact with only 19 receptions, and Rice’s focus has been split by off-field issues.

Put it all together, and the Chiefs don’t necessarily need a receiver. But they might not want to wait on one either.

Things might look different for Rashee Rice in 2026

Rashee Rice missed six games during the 2025 season after being suspended for violating the league’s personal conduct policy. Heading into 2026, it felt like a similar situation could unfold. However, amid the ongoing controversy, the NFL conducted its own review and stated that Rice “has not engaged in conduct that violates the personal conduct policy.”

That update followed allegations from his former girlfriend, Dacoda Jones, who accused him of abuse over multiple years. She shared photos on Instagram showing bruises and injuries across her body.

While she didn’t name Rice directly in the post, she stated that the individual was the father of her two children, whom she shares with Rice.

“I’m so tired of keeping quiet. I’m so tired of protecting his image. I’ve been through too much in a span of 8 years and I’ve had ENOUGH!” Jones said in her Instagram post, which has since been deleted.

She later filed a lawsuit in Texas in February, alleging Rice a–aulted her repeatedly over 18 months from 2023 to 2025, including periods when she was pregnant. The lawsuit seeks more than $1 million in damages. And it also included an allegation that Rice strangled her in December 2023.

Despite speculation about a possible suspension for the 2026 season, the league has now closed its investigation and confirmed that no discipline will be issued.

“Mr. Rice wants to thank the NFL for their thorough investigation, and looks forward to the start of the 2026-27 NFL season,” Sean Lindsey, Rice’s attorney, said in a statement.

The Chiefs have yet to release an official statement. But as things stand, Rice will now look forward to being available for the 2026 season and remaining a key part of the offense.

With Rice officially cleared, the Chiefs’ front office now faces a clear choice: stand by their current group or use their top pick to add another offensive weapon for Patrick Mahomes.