Who will emerge as the Chiefs’ No. 2 pass-catcher after TE Travis Kelce with Rashee Rice facing likely suspension?

Tight end Travis Kelce is obviously the Chiefs’ go-to option in the passing game, but after their latest Super Bowl run, it appeared as though 2023 second-round pick wide receiver Rashee Rice was well on his way toward becoming Mahomes’ new No. 1 in the eventual post-Kelce era. Rice ranked second on the Super Bowl champions in catches (79) and receiving yards (938) behind Kelce while leading them in receiving touchdowns (seven) as a rookie.

However, Rice’s 2024 offseason has been anything but calm. He is being sued for allegedly being at fault for a multi-vehicle crash in Dallas on March 30, and he was under investigation for allegedly hitting a photographer at a Dallas club back in May. Should Rice begin the 2024 season with a suspension, who will step up in his place? His 8.3 yards after catch per reception ranked second in the NFL among receivers last season, trailing only San Francisco 49ers All-Pro Deebo Samuel (8.8).

Will it be 2024 first-round pick (28th overall) wide receiver Xavier Worthy, who ran a record 4.21 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, or perhaps free agent signee Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, a 2019 first-round pick of the Baltimore Ravens? Also, can these two bring back Mahomes’ deep passing game? Mahomes tossed 41 touchdowns of 20 or more air yards when All-Pro receiver Tyreek Hill was around from 2018 through 2021. Since 2022, he has thrown only two touchdowns of 20 or more air yards in the last two seasons.