COSTA MESA, Calif. — Corridor of Famer Jerry Rice wasn’t joyful after the 2024 NFL draft.
Rice’s son Brenden Rice, a large receiver out of USC, was projected to be a midround choose in lots of mock drafts, and in keeping with Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh, Los Angeles had a third- to fourth-round grade on him.
However Brenden wasn’t picked till the seventh spherical, the thirty second receiver taken out of the 35 drafted. He stated his draft place disenchanted him and infuriated his father.
“My dad was sizzling,” Brenden, 22, stated with a smile. “You guys get the flash like … the common-or-garden dude, proper? Me, he is like, ‘Hell no, we will take this to a special degree. These guys going to really feel us.'”
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It was a very emotional day for Brenden, who attended his finest pal’s funeral on the day he was drafted. He stated he acquired the decision from the Chargers whereas he was in a Dallas airport heading dwelling to L.A.
“It was identical to a blessing from God as a result of he allowed me to go forward and simply mourn the loss of life of my pal,” Brenden stated, “after which after that simply go forward and be joyful, and it was an excellent day.”
The frustration of falling to the seventh spherical was short-lived, Brenden stated, due to the workforce that selected him. The Chargers misplaced their prime two receivers within the offseason, buying and selling away Keenan Allen and releasing Mike Williams, leaving them with only one receiver who has had a 1,000-yard season — DJ Chark Jr., who did it in 2019 and signed with the workforce earlier this month.
That, together with having quarterback Justin Herbert, makes for a good spot for a rookie receiver, maybe extra so than many different groups. Brenden stated he’s nicely conscious of that.
“I am in one of the best place doable to go forward and make my mark on and make my very own legacy,” he stated. “I went from Caleb Williams to Justin Herbert, and I am in a room that is going to permit me to compete day in and time out.
“Every thing’s upon me, so for those who guys do not see me coming fall, that is on me. And for those who guys see me on the market, then I put within the vital work to place my finest foot within the door and go on the market and produce.”
At 6-foot-3 and 208 kilos, Brenden provides the Chargers a bodily deep-ball goal. He led USC with a 14.6 air yards per goal in 2023, and 7 of his 12 landing receptions had been on vertical routes, tied for the sixth most within the FBS. His strengths nonetheless differ considerably from that of his father, who, as Brenden famous, was extra of a easy route runner than the bodily receiver he’s.
As for who the higher participant was at this level of their careers, Brenden stated that is nonetheless up for debate.
“I really feel as if we’re neck and neck. I am sooner, and I heard his rookie season within the NFL wasn’t good,” Brenden stated of his father, who had 49 receptions for 927 yards and three touchdowns in 16 video games as a rookie. “I gotta go prime him.”
