Jerry Rice's son drafted by AFC West team in seventh round
The Los Angeles Chargers drafted someone with a father who's considered the best receiver in NFL history.
In the seventh round with pick No. 225 of the 2024 NFL Draft, the Chargers selected USC wideout Brenden Rice, son of San Francisco 49ers Hall of Famer Jerry Rice.
The younger Rice averaged an impressive 17.6 yards per catch last season for the Trojans with 12 touchdowns.
While Rice is his own person and will aim to craft his own legacy, the fact his father is Jerry Rice had to be part of the intrigue to drafting him. Jerry Rice won three Super Bowls with the 49ers and set NFL records with 1,549 career receptions, 22,895 receiving yards and 197 receiving touchdowns.
Another reason the Chargers drafted Rice is the relationship he and head coach Jim Harbaugh already have. Harbaugh's known Rice since he was in high school.
"I lovе thе coaching staff, I lovе who thеy arе," Rice told reporters in March. "Jim Harbaugh rеcruitеd mе out of high school. Shoot, I bеliеvе I would bе grеat within that systеm."
Shortly after Rice was drafted, he tweeted out "All I needed was a shot" and he'll get one within a scheme he can potentially thrive in. Rice is willing to block, a prerequisite for a receiver in Harbaugh's offensive scheme, and he should fare well via play-action pass shots from quarterback Justin Herbert.
Rice was known for hauling in contested catches and 50-50 balls throughout his college career, which started at Colorado and finished at USC, as well as being a touchdown machine. Rice scored every 5.2 catches during his career.
Rice, who stands 6-foot-2 and 208 pounds, was the second receiver the Chargers drafted this year after the franchise drafted Georgia's Ladd McConkey in the second round. The depth chart at wideout is now suddenly looking better for the Chargers after they traded Keenan Allen to the Chicago Bears and released Mike Williams. Quentin Johnston, Joshua Palmer, Derius Davis, Ladd McConkey, and Rice round out the depth chart currently.
While no one is expecting Brenden Rice to be Jerry Rice, his story is a unique one that football fans could be following for years to come.
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