Raiders News: USC WR Brenden Rice, Son Of Jerry Rice, Would Love To Play For Las Vegas

The 2024 NFL Draft is fast approaching, and the Las Vegas Raiders will have the opportunity to improve their roster if they make the right picks. While wide receiver isn’t one of the team’s biggest needs, there are a number of talented players at the position, including the son of the greatest ever, Brenden Rice, whose father is Jerry Rice.

Rice is an intriguing talent as he is a big-bodied receiver at 6’2 and nearly 210 pounds. He transferred to USC after two seasons at Colorado and had his best season as a senior with the Trojans, finishing with 45 receptions for 791 yards and a team-high 12 touchdowns.

Being the son of Jerry Rice, arguably the greatest player in NFL history regardless of position, brings a huge level of pressure, but Brenden Rice isn’t afraid to follow in his footsteps. The receiver said it would be amazing to put on the silver and black and play for the Raiders like his father via Carter Landis of Sports Illustrated:

Rice said he has met with the Raiders informally and that it would be an honor to follow in his father’s footsteps and put on the Silver and Black.

“It would be amazing to go out there and play for them,” Rice said. “Especially Antonio Pierce, me and him have a fond relationship. Just to get back out there on the field with them would be great.”

Obviously, the majority of Jerry Rice’s career was spent in San Francisco, but he still had three excellent years with the Raiders, including in 2002, when he was named a Second-Team All-Pro and made the Pro Bowl. Overall, he finished his Raiders career with 243 receptions for 3,286 yards and 18 touchdowns.

Brenden Rice is trying to make a name for himself, and expecting him to live up to his father’s standards would be unfair. However, he still has the talent to be a good receiver in the NFL. Whether that would come with the Raiders is unclear, as the team is pretty set at the position.

Obviously Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers are the starters and Tre Tucker came on late last season as well. But if the Raiders feel Rice is a good value pick, the team could certainly add to their group.

Raiders exploring trading up in first round of 2024 NFL Draft

The Raiders are certainly going to be a team to watch around draft season as they are looking to make the best moves to get over the hump and back into postseason contention. That includes moving up in the draft and even if they can’t get into the top-3 for a franchise quarterback, they are still considering other deals.

Recent reports stated that the Raiders have had conversations about potentially trading up into the five to seven range, which wouldn’t get them their quarterback but could still put them in position for a top player at a very important position.

The Los Angeles Chargers, New York Giants, and Tennessee Titans hold those picks so it will be up to GM Tom Telesco to see what he can do to get the Raiders in the spot they desire.