4 high-upside wide receiver prospects Commanders could steal in 2024

Commanders could draft Brenden Rice

The son of arguably the greatest wide receiver to ever play the game is somewhat of a wild card in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Some people have him going as early as the third round, and some as late as the fifth. With some of the flaws in Brenden Rice's game - such as his lack of speed against press coverage - there's a high probability he'll be taken on Day 3 rather than Day 2.

At 6-foot-3, Rice has the height that the Washington Commanders could use. He is also a touchdown scorer, having brought in 12 trips to the end zone during his final season with the USC Trojans en route to a second-team All-PAC-12 selection.

Rice does a great job at the end of his routes, such as on long balls when he often displays a greater fire than defensive backs when it comes to emerging victorious from contested catches. We all know how great the likes of Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye are at getting the football downfield, so the chance for early involvement is high.

Unlike Ricky Pearsall, Rice is not the type of wide receiver who will come in and become one of the focal points of a quarterback's vision from Day 1. He will require some time. But he has the athleticism, height, and displays many of the traits that cannot be taught.

If he can receive the coaching he needs, Rice could make a name for himself in the NFL and make his father Jerry proud.

If he falls to the fifth round and the Commanders have chosen to focus on the offensive line, the pass rush, and the safety position, Rice is a late-round wideout who could be on Adam Peter's radar. He also knows Kliff Kingsbury well from their time together in Southern California last season.

They could take him at No. 139 or No. 152 if Rice is available with the pick Washington gained in the trade for quarterback Sam Howell.