Brenden Rice remains in Los Angeles, as the former USC player was selected by the Los Angeles Chargers in the seventh round with the No. 225 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Rice is the son of NFL legend Jerry Rice, a Pro Football Hall of Famer who won three Super Bowls with the San Francisco 49ers, and is still the league’s all-time leading receiver with 22 895 career receiving yards. He crossed paths with current Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh during his time with the Oakland Raiders in the early 2000s.
The younger Rice was considered a player likely to sneak into the third round, but he somehow fell to the end of the draft. He caught 45 passes for 791 yards and 12 touchdowns in 12 games played last year, and those 12 receiving touchdowns were tied for ninth in the FBS.
It’s a bittersweet day for Rice, who is attending the funeral of his best friend, Keith Miller III, in Dallas, by NFL Media. Rice was a pallbearer and also gave a speech at the funeral. He would have answered her call during the funeral.
Rice was CBS Sports’ No. 24 wide receiver in this class and No. 143 overall prospect. He joins a room that lost Keenan Allen and Mike Williams this offseason, and is now led by Quentin Johnston, Josh Palmer and fellow rookie Ladd McConkey.
Preliminary grade from Chris Trapasso: B+
“Downstream specimen with quality size. Hasn’t tested amazingly but has been a vertical weapon for Caleb Williams at USC. Stiff routes and only glimmers of YAC, but has the power to get through some tackles. Fun fit with Justin Herbert. Son of NFL legend Jerry Rice.
