Rashee Rice walked out of jail this week after completing his 30-day sentence, and Kansas City's wide receiver room is technically whole again. But 'technically' is doing a lot of work in that sentence. SI.com's Albert Breer flagged what most Chiefs fans already sense: Rice's reliability remains an open question, and that uncertainty is exactly why Stefon Diggs keeps coming up in conversations about Kansas City's offseason.
Will Rashee Rice play a full season for the Chiefs in 2026?
Rashee Rice's situation is genuinely complicated. He had the ability to choose when to serve his sentence stemming from a felony street-racing conviction, but a failed drug test last month forced the timeline forward. That detail matters. It signals that Rice's path back to the field is not just about physical recovery from last year's injuries. There is a broader reliability concern at play now.
Breer was direct about it. 'They were counting on him to be their top wide receiver, with Xavier Worthy and Tyquan Thornton the other guys figuring to play big roles,' he wrote. 'Given the reliability question there with Rice, the idea of kicking the tires on someone like Stefon Diggs sure would make some sense.' The Chiefs still expect Rice to carry a significant load when the season starts. But expecting something and betting everything on it are different things. With Patrick Mahomes returning from a season-ending knee injury and the team coming off its first playoff miss in over a decade, Kansas City cannot afford another offensive collapse.
Could the Chiefs sign Stefon Diggs in 2026?
Diggs is available, healthy, and cleared. His trial over an assault allegation involving a former personal chef concluded last month in an acquittal, and the NFL confirmed it would not issue further discipline. That closes the book on his legal situation.
What is open is his next destination. SI.com's Connor Orr noted that the Los Angeles Rams are among teams interested. 'The 32-year-old veteran, who played 17 games last season, caught more than 85 balls and scored four touchdowns for the Patriots, will be a valuable WR3 option for Sean McVay's offense or a trusted fill-in for the Chiefs as the team navigates the increasing unreliability of Rashee Rice,' Orr wrote.
Diggs himself has hinted at a potential return to Buffalo, the team that traded him to Houston in 2024. He has been with three different clubs over the last three seasons, which means familiarity and comfort will likely factor into his decision.
For Kansas City, the appeal is straightforward. Diggs is a veteran who has run every route in the book, and Mahomes needs dependable targets around him during what shapes up as a critical bounce-back year for the franchise.
