Rashee Rice Complete NFL Draft Profile (SMU Wide Receiver's Draft Stock All Over the Place)

SMU wide receiver Rashee Rice is headed to the 2023 NFL Draft after turning in a breakout campaign in 2022. Rice doesn't stand out as an elite prospect in any area, but his explosiveness and ability to run after the catch will have him on teams' radars.

Here's everything you need to know about Rashee Rice heading into the 2023 NFL Draft.

Rashee Rice Draft Stock & Mock Draft Projections

Mock draft sources accurate as of 4/22: Walter Football, Sporting News, CBS Sports, Pro Football Network, ESPN.

Projected Draft Round: Round 3 (2), Round 4 (1), Round 2 (2), Round 5 (1)
Projected Team: Broncos (2), Packers (1), Ravens (1), Rams (1)

Rashee Rice Scouting Report

Rashee Rice is a wide receiver prospect from SMU with an impressive list of awards and honors. He has a good blend of size, length and speed and is known for his effective ball-tracking and ability to alter his trip to the football. Rice is a fluid athlete with excellent short-area quickness, making him a threat in the middle of the field. He has a tall frame, long arms, and strong hands, giving him a huge catch radius.

Some of Rice's strengths include his ability to create separation with his straight-line speed, his work ethic and his play strength. However, he also has some weaknesses, such as a lack of commitment to detail as a route runner and inconsistent use of his frame to shield defenders. Rice needs to improve his consistency and urgency to find long-term success in the NFL.

Rice has shown great potential in several aspects of his game, including his explosiveness, ability to make defenders miss after the catch and his impressive body control and flexibility as a contested-catch artist. However, he does have some areas for improvement, such as refining his route-running technique, improving his hand-eye coordination and working on his ball security. Additionally, Rice's lingering foot injury in 2022 is a concern, as foot injuries can be chronic.

Overall, Rashee Rice has the physical tools and potential to be a valuable asset to an NFL team. If he can improve on his weaknesses and maintain his health, he could have a successful career in the league.

Rashee Rice NFL Draft Prediction

Rice's draft stock is tough to nail down, and that's why you see him getting mocked anywhere from the second to the fifth round.

Ultimately, I just don't see an NFL team falling in love with a guy who doesn't stand out with any elite measurables and whose production was good-not-great at a small school. Rice feels to me like the classic mid-to-late-round receiver who can step in and contribute solidly when asked, but never really breaks out.

Of course, there's a place for that on a ton of NFL rosters.

The Green Bay Packers have a totally unproven wide receiver room and a young quarterback who's going to need some help, and adding a potentially reliable option to the room without spending a marquee pick has to appeal.

Prediction: Green Bay Packers (Round 4, 116th overall)

Rashee Rice NFL Combine Results

Check out more NFL Draft coverage from The Duel:

Rashee Rice SMU Stats

Rashee Rice SMU Highlights