USC WR Brenden Rice Talks Raiders

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- As the NFL Scouting Combine wraps up another week of player interviews and incredible on-field performances, the Las Vegas Raiders hope to have come away from the week with a better understanding of who they want to select come April.

The Raiders are looking to improve at every position, possibly including the ones they already have top contributors at, including wide receiver.

Las Vegas has Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers handling their top two receiver spots, while Tre Tucker could see an increase in playing time in his second season. But this is a talented wide receiver class in the 2024 NFL Draft, so the Raiders should not rule out any options.

USC wide receiver Brenden Rice could be a possibility. Rice is the son of legendary Hall of Famer Jerry Rice, who played four seasons for the Raiders when they were in Oakland.

Rice said he has met with the Raiders informally and that it would be an honor to follow in his father’s footsteps and put on the Silver and Black.

“It would be amazing to go out there and play for them,” Rice said. “Especially Antonio Pierce, me and him have a fond relationship. Just to get back out there on the field with them would be great.”

Rice played two seasons for Colorado before transferring to USC. He finished his college career with 111 receptions for 1,821 yards and 21 touchdowns. He broke out in his senior season, catching 12 of those touchdowns and was selected Second-Team All-Pac 12 in 2023.

Rice is a big-bodied receiver at 6-foot-2 and 208 pounds and profiles as a prototypical outside receiver. He has excellent speed and can consistently win one-on-one match-ups against defensive backs, much like his father could.

On Friday, Rice ran a 4.50 official 40-yard dash at the Combine and had a 36.5 vertical jump. His athleticism was entirely on display in Indianapolis.

Jerry Rice caught 243 passes for 3,286 yards and 18 touchdowns as a Raider, making the Pro Bowl in 2002, although his greatest seasons were with the San Francisco 49ers with whom he won three Super Bowls.

While Brenden Rice will be pressured to live up to his father’s name, he is a good receiver prospect in his own right. If the Raiders select him, he will try to leave his legacy on the game of football.

To read our full scouting report on Rice, click here.

The NFL Draft will be held in Detroit, Mich., on April 25-27, 2024. The Las Vegas Raiders currently hold the No. 13 overall pick.

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