The NFL Draft – a three-day event where many young prospects’ dreams become a reality. That feeling of ‘I’ve made it,’ of pure happiness, after getting the call from a franchise? There isn’t much that could rival that. But for Brenden Rice, the “Welcome to the NFL” moment was a bittersweet one because the call came the same day he was serving as a pallbearer at his best friend’s funeral.

On Saturday, Brenden embarked on a journey marked by both promise and poignant loss. Being recruited by Jim Harbaugh and the Los Angeles Chargers on a rookie contract worth $4,129,848 and a signing bonus of $109,848 became symbols of triumph amid tribulation. Yet, as the ink dried on the contract, there lingered a void—an ache that no sum of money could reconcile. For Brenden, the shadows cast by the bright lights of Draft Day were deepened by the loss of Keith Miller III.

Rice’s resilience in the face of tragedy

Keith Miller III reportedly passed away on April 11, aged 23. The Texas A&M Commerce wide receiver, who played alongside Brenden Rice in 2020 and 2021 at Colorado, was found in his apartment near the TAMUC campus. Although the cause of death wasn’t immediately known, Miller’s girlfriend, Calia Jae, opened up about it on Instagram. “I’m only going to address this one time for the sake I don’t want any fake news being spread,” she wrote.

“Keith was mentally battling something that not me or even his mom could help him with. I have done everything I could as his partner to try to help him during his battle, but ultimately, God has the final say.” With the funeral on April 27, former San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jerry Rice’s son suited up. But instead of heading to downtown Detroit, Brenden flew to Dallas, Texas. And he couldn’t help but think that his falling four rounds in the Draft happened for a reason.

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The former USC Trojans wide receiver poured his heart out on his Instagram story amidst the whirlwind of emotions. Rice wrote, “Yesterday, I began to drop 4 rounds from where I was supposed to go. Today, I laid my brother to rest in Dallas. Trying to mourn but also waiting for a phone call.” In an interview from March, Rice was asked if getting drafted in the third round felt right to him. His answer was a plain and simple “No.” But the second round? “Yes, I would hope,” he said. The 22-year-old expected to have a team by Friday. However, he didn’t and wrote,

“I don’t know what happened to make me drop, but I’m glad God gave me the ability to focus on [Miller], and I felt as though God, as well as Keith, brought me back to my Faith. Now begins the journey up the mountain once again. You will feel my pain.” A few hours later, though, he got the call from Jim Harbaugh and the Chargers, who drafted him as the 225th overall pick. But why wasn’t a promising talent like Rice drafted before the seventh round? Draft expert Dane Brugler shared their thoughts.

Standing at 6’2” and 208 pounds, Brendan Rice’s hand-eye coordination, speed, and athleticism are undeniably up there. However, “Though he is efficient in/out of breaks, his separation skills are average at best, and he struggled to consistently win crowded catch points,” wrote Brugler. Last season, the wide receiver caught 45 passes for 791 yards and had a team-best 12 touchdowns, playing alongside the No.1 overall pick Caleb Williams. Speaking of Williams, Rice had hoped the Bears would draft him, too.

He told TMZ, “I’m telling you, we could take it. We could be that next duo – just like Gronk and Tom Brady.” However, he became one of two USC wide receivers to get drafted past the No.220 mark. Joining him as the 241st pick was Tahj Washington, drafted by the Dolphins. Despite falling four rounds and laying his best friend to rest, all in the span of a day, Brenden Rice couldn’t have been more grateful to end up with the Bolts. He tweeted, “All I needed was a shot. Charged Up⚡️⚡️”

As he and the Chargers committed to each other, the 22-year-old also made a commitment to Keith Miller III.

Brenden Rice delivered a heartfelt obituary and a promise of brotherhood

Not only did Brenden Rice stand as a pillar of strength during Keith Miller III’s final farewell, carrying his dearest friend’s coffin and delivering a heartfelt obituary speech, but he also let the world feel the weight of his love and commitment on Instagram. “Long live KM3,” he penned, his words echoing with the resonance of a bond forged on and off the field. With a solemn promise, he declared his intent to stand by Miller’s son, vowing, “On Everything I love yo (sic) son will be taken care of,”

In a poignant tribute, accompanied by a snapshot capturing Miller’s essence alongside a young boy, Rice reassured, “Luka gone be straight I got him.” In those words, he encapsulated the enduring legacy of a friendship that transcends the boundaries of time and space.