Rashee Rice has emerged as a star for the Kansas City Chiefs in the lead-up to Super Bowl LVIII. How fast did Rice run in the 40-yard dash at the 2023 NFL Combine, and how does his speed make the Chiefs more potent in the passing game?
Rashee Rice 40-Yard Dash Time: How Fast Is the Chiefs’ Rookie WR?
At the 2023 NFL Combine, Rice ran a 4.51 40-yard dash. His time ranked 25th out of 43 wide receivers who ran the 40-yard dash at the NFL’s annual athletic testing event.
Though Rice — who was drafted 55th overall out of the SMU Mustangs — only ranked 25th out of 43 eligible receivers at the 2023 NFL Combine, his 4.51 40-yard dash is in the 72nd percentile among receivers all-time.
Compared to the 4.29-second 40-yard dash time that former Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill ran at the West Alabama Pro Day in 2016, it’s practically pedestrian. However, while Rice’s long speed isn’t quite elite, his explosiveness is.
Rice tested with a 41″ vertical jump and a 10’8″ broad jump at the NFL Combine, and on his 40-yard dash, he logged a blistering 1.5-second 10-yard split.
Rice’s 10-yard split is in the 97th percentile. His broad jump is in the 92nd percentile, and his vertical jump is in the 98th percentile. Those numbers helped Rice earn an elite Relative Athletic Score (RAS) of 9.53.
Rice’s instant explosiveness, combined with his size at 6’1″and 204 pounds, made him a formidable run-after-catch threat in his first season with the Chiefs.
On the year, despite having an average depth of target (ADOT) of 4.8 yards, Rice was able to amass 79 catches for 938 yards and seven touchdowns. Of his 938 receiving yards, 653 came after the catch — for an average of 8.3 RAC yards per catch.
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Rice is fast. However, it’s not elite 60-yard vertical speed that underpins Rice’s game. Rather, it’s elite close-quarters speed and burst. With that first and second-level speed, Rice can stretch seams, warp tackling angles, and take designed touches for big gains.
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