Welcome to SKOL Search!
This series will be your guide to the 2023 draft class. From scouting reports to mock drafts and exploring different scenarios, we will be covering the NFL draft and the future of the Minnesota Vikings from all angles.
The focus of the draft class in this space will be on the Vikings’ major needs at wide receiver, running back, cornerback and both interior and edge pass rusher.
The Vikings are slated to have four picks before compensatory selections are awarded and they need to make the most out of them.
Background
Rashee Rice
- SMU
- Height-6’1″
- Weight-189 lbs
- Fourth-year Senior
- 3-Star recruit per 247 Sports
- Stats: 233 receptions, 3,111 yards, 25 touchdowns
- Games watched: Navy 2022, Tulsa 2022, Maryland 2022
Strengths
Rice has speed and uses it well in the open field. He glides almost majestically and effortlessly when running in space. When he gets the ball, he’s a threat to take it to the house.
Rice isn’t a finesse player at the position. He plays with some physicality in all facets. Rice doesn’t get knocked off of his spot easily and blocks with violence.
He has a solid release package and can separate with technique. Rice works back to the football on comeback and hitch routes along with broken plays. At the catch point, he is physical and brings in contested catches at a high frequency. Displays good hands and only 21 drops on 352 targets (5.96%).
Weaknesses
For being a speedster, Rice doesn’t do a great job separating with speed. Some of it is not doing a great job selling routes at the top of the stem. Selling the deep route and turning it into hitch/comeback and double moves should be his bread and butter but it’s not quite there.
His route tree isn’t fully developed due to playing in the Air Raid at SMU. Once he gets to the NFL, there will be a learning curve. Not being able to play with as much space in the NFL as he did in college.
Overview
| Hands | 7.6/10 |
| Release | 8.0/10 |
| Route Running | 12.6/15 |
| Separation | 12.3/15 |
| Contested Catches | 9.2/10 |
| Tracking | 8.7/10 |
| Body Control | 8.6/10 |
| YAC Ability | 8.7/10 |
| Agility | 8.2/10 |
| Grade | 83.9/100 Second Round |
Rice has a lot of tools, but there is still quite a bit of work to be done. He needs some technique work to maximize his potential, but the tools are evident across the board.
He would be a really nice addition to the Vikings. His size, physicality and speed are tools that are worth developing. I would expect him to go in the second round, but teams love speed.
