New York Giants Draft Prospect: WR Brenden Rice

Nick takes a look at a potential Day 2 receiver prospect and the son of an NFL legend.

Brenden Rice, WR

Height: 6’2
Weight: 208 lbs.
Hands: 9⅝”
Arms: 33”
Class: Senior
School: USC
Stats

Measurements

40-yard dash: 4.50
10-yard split: 1.55
Vertical Jump: 36½”
Broad Jump: 9’11”
Bench Press: 13 reps

A former three-star recruit out of Hamilton High School in Chandler, Arizona, where he was the 10th prospect from Arizona and the 80th WR in his recruiting class. He initially spent two years at Colorado before transferring to USC for his final two collegiate seasons.

Rice is the son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Jerry Rice, who may know something about playing wide receiver. Rice attended the Reese’s Senior Bowl and the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine.

Strengths

• Prototypical “X” Build for a WR
• Great length and solid overall frame - 33” arms
• Impressive catch radius
• Solid overall athlete with good change of direction and light feet
• Can gain quality speed with momentum
• Not a stiff receiver for someone of his size
• Only faced press coverage on 17% of total snaps
• Great slide release to set up slant
• Solid overall release package in general
• Does well to accelerate off the LOS into his slant - big frame to secure passes
• Suddenly flips his hips and turns to the QB on quick hitches
• Physical at the top of his breaks - subtle push-offs to create space
• Contact and dynamic cuts into breaks create extra - sometimes needed - separation
• Works back to the football well to maximize throwing windows
• Impressive contested catches on his tape
• Especially on back-shoulder throws
• Had a fantastic rapport with Caleb Williams
• Boxed smaller CBs out of the play well in 1v1 situations
• Successful red zone and fade target
• Very smart receiver when the play breaks down
• Extends play and finds open areas - great spatial awareness
• Quick feet and agility assisted his YAC
• Picked up YAC physically as well - check Oregon, Q4, 6:27
• Physical blocker who will be an asset
• Has experience as a kick returner
• Had one punt return in his college career that resulted in an 81 yard TD

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Weaknesses

• Can rely too much on physicality to create separation
• Could improve his tracking/concentration ability in the air
• Could do a better job securing the football after the catch
• Limited route tree - ran mostly hitches, slants, and go routes
• Aligned mostly on the left side of the field

Summary

Brenden Rice is a savvy, big-bodied route runner with adequate play speed. He creates separation with nuance and physicality at the top of his breaks and has an excellent feel for maximizing his quarterback’s throwing window. Rice is a red-zone threat who was excellent at extending plays at the college level.

Rice’s route tree wasn’t expansive at USC. He’s not an elite athlete at the position, but with momentum, he reaches quality speed. It’s not unfair to question his ability to create consistent separation against man coverage at the next level, but he’s quicker than he gets credit for, has a great catch radius, and is a smart overall player. He could be one of the receivers drafted on day two that makes an early impact in the NFL.

GRADE: 6.38

Nick Falato

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