2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Brenden Rice

Prospect Summary:

Marvin Harrison Jr. is not the only legacy receiver of a Hall of Famer in the 2024 NFL Draft class, as Brenden Rice is also the son of an NFL Hall of Famer. The son of Jerry Rice, Brenden Rice had a low profile in college before flashing somewhat as a junior in 2022 (39-611-4). Rice then played his best football in 2023, catching 45 passes for 791 yards and 12 touchdowns. He worked very well with Caleb Williams, and Rice continued his upward trend with impressive performances at the Senior Bowl, 2024 NFL Scouting Combine and his pro day. While things may have clicked late, Rice has proven to have next-level ability over the past six months.

Big receivers are a dime a dozen for the NFL, but what sets Rice apart from a typical big wide-out is his ability to run. He is fast when he opens things up vertically, and his speed makes him dangerous to get deep down the field. After some build-up, Rice displays a second gear to accelerate down the field and stretch defenses over the top. He can run by double coverage and create separation from defensive backs by beating them in a vertical race downfield. His speed and route-running are impressive for a wide receiever of his size.

Rice could still use some development for the next level. While he shows some deep speed, he could stand to improve running at top speed on short and intermediate routes. That would help him to generate more separation. Rice does not always play up to his speed, and that is a point of emphasis for his pro coaches. Rice is decent, but not great, after the catch, and he could stand to get better at tracking the ball the downfield.

Rice seems to be a late-bloomer, so it would not be surprising if he ends up being an excellent mid-round value pick. In the 2024 NFL Draft, Rice could go as high as the third round and probably won’t slip out of the fourth round.