Despite having a successful career at USC playing alongside Caleb Williams, Brenden Rice entered the NFL Draft with fans hoping he would be a fifth- or sixth-round pick. But it was only in the 7th round that the Los Angeles Chargers drafted him as the 225th overall pick. Being the son of an eminent former NFL player who is also a Hall of Famer, Brenden Rice faces the pressure of comparison.

After all, Jerry Rice holds the all-time NFL records in catches (1,549), receiving yards (22,895), and receiving touchdowns (197). Brenden Rice followed in his father’s footsteps as a wide receiver into the NFL, but the beginning is a stark contrast to his father, who was a 1st round-pick by San Francisco 49ers in 1985. But does Brenden’s late pick have anything to do with his prospective performance in the upcoming season?

It surprised everybody when Brenden Rice fell so far behind in the draft. But the Chicago Bears’ No. 1 pick, Caleb Williams, knows the worth and talent of his former USC teammate, and his IG story proved it. After the Chargers picked him, Williams uploaded the result and wrote, “Make em pay.” Not every great NFL prospect gets drafted early on, and one example is former Pittsburgh Steelers WR, Antonio Brown.

In 2010, Brown was drafted in the sixth round as the 195th pick. Despite being initially placed on the Steelers’ WR depth chart at No. 5, he showed everyone that a late-round pick could leave the early-round picks in the dust. Brown signed a three-year deal worth $1.3 million that included a $73k signing bonus. His salary was low compared to the other NFL players.

Recalling his draft season in a recent interview, Brown said, “I feel like it was a blessing… I look that as an opportunity you know live out my dreams change my life… Obviously, the sixth round made me motivated to be able to you know prove what I could do as far as my talent…” In his rookie season, Brown had 16 receptions and covered 167 yards in 9 games.

But do you know why he chose 84 as his jersey number with the Steelers? It was the number of times the 32 teams passed up on him in the 2010 NFL Draft. Brown revealed, “… Knowing that 32 teams passed up on me, so every time we have a dress rehearsal I gotta remind these guys of what I could…” He was the fifth wide receiver with the Steelers, so he had to work his way up.

Later, Brown led the NFL with 129 receptions and 1,698 receiving yards in 2014, becoming the first Steeler to lead the NFL in receiving yards after Roy Jefferson accomplished that in 1968. So will Brenden Rice’s prospects as a WR in the Chargers replicate what Antonia Brown did?

Brenden Rice is charged up to play for the Chargers

Returning to Brenden Rice, during his time at USC, he recorded 45 catches for 791 yards and 12 touchdowns. The 6-foot-2, 208-pounder compiled a combined career record of 84 catches for 1,402 yards and 16 scores and became a 2023 Second-Team All-Pac-12 honoree. 

While fans and fellow teammates have expressed discontent over his late pick, he seems pleasantly piqued as he stated, “All I needed was a shot. Charged up.”

Trending

Patrick Mahomes’ NFL Commitment Frustrates Randi Mahomes as Mom Admits Lack of Family Time With Chiefs QB

May 14, 2024 03:35 AM EDT

Papa Kelce Officially Confirms $1.95 Trillion Worth Corp’s Interest in Jason & Travis Kelce’s ‘New Heights’ Podcast

May 13, 2024 06:53 PM EDT

Deion Sanders Sets the Record Straight On Shedeur & Shilo’s $7,000,000 Mansion Purchase for Him

May 13, 2024 09:12 PM EDT

After Hitting $30K Jackpot in Vegas With Shedeur, Deion Sanders Jr. Visits ‘The Craziest Place He’s Ever Seen’ to Enjoy His Vacation

May 14, 2024 01:40 PM EDT

“Playing His Dad”: Coach Prime’s Ex-Wife Pilar Sanders Beams With Pride as Son Shilo Walks in Her Footsteps

May 11, 2024 05:34 AM EDT

Get instantly notified of the hottest NFL stories via Google! Click on Follow Us and Tap the Blue Star.

Follow Us

Now only time will tell if Rice will be able to follow in Brown’s footsteps with the Chargers to show what many NFL teams missed out on when they didn’t draft him early.