Rashee Rice replacement options: Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver trade targets

Andy Reid declined to rule out wide receiver Rashee Rice for the remainder of the season when he met with the media Monday afternoon.

Rice was stretchered off the field along with Patrick Mahomes in the Kansas City Chiefs’ 17-10 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday after suffering a serious injury. Reid explained that his speedy, talented wide receiver still needs further testing, but the Chiefs are reportedly concerned that he tore his ACL in that collision.

The Chiefs will be without Marquise Hollywood Brown (shoulder) until at least January. If Travis Kelce is unable to find the end zone, the Chiefs are left with JuJu Smith-Scheuster, Xavier Worthy, Justin Watson, Mecole Hardman and Skyy Moore. In the running game they are against Isiah Pacheco (fibula) and Clyde Edwards-Helaire (personal).

Somehow Kansas City is 4-0. Despite this record, their offense does not appear to be up to the typical, explosive standard. At some point, they may have to pick up the phone and call for backup to help Mahomes run the offense.

Here are a few trade candidates the Chiefs should target, especially if Rice’s knee injury is serious enough to warrant replacing him.

Amari Cooper, Cleveland Browns

Why not reach for the fences? One could argue that Cooper would immediately be the most qualified wide receiver to ever work with Mahomes.

For some reason things didn’t click with Cooper and quarterback Deshaun Watson in Cleveland. He is 30 years old and is playing in the final year of his contract.

The Browns probably aren’t buying one of their only offensive weapons right now, but everything comes at a price. Right?

Darius Slayton, New York Giants

Slayton’s upside has always been an untapped mystery during his time with the Giants. Maybe Mahomes could unlock that potential.

Despite playing 81 percent of snaps for the Giants this season, New York’s offense is still controlled by rookie Malik Nabers. There is no hiding the fact that he is the future of this space.

Slayton, just 27, could secure a longer-term role in Kansas City. He’ll also be a free agent at the end of this season, so it’s not like the Chiefs would marry him, and it wouldn’t take much to pry him away from the Big Apple.

Odell Beckham Jr., Miami Dolphins

Let’s go crazy for a second. Beckham has yet to play a snap for the Miami Dolphins. He is reportedly preparing to start practicing soon.

Miami’s future is largely uncertain due to Tua Tagovailoa’s health. If we’re honest, it’s hard to imagine a world in which they could ever compete in the AFC this season, especially considering QBs Skylar Thompson and Tyler “Snoop” Huntley awaiting Tagovailoa’s return to football wait.

Beckham signed a one-year deal with the Fins this offseason to compete for another Super Bowl. That probably won’t happen in Miami this year. But similar to Cooper in Cleveland, they probably won’t buy him.

But after another injury? The price for Beckham wouldn’t be too high. He caught 35 passes for 565 yards and three touchdowns for the Ravens last season. That kind of productivity is exactly what the Chiefs will be missing in Rice.