The Kansas City Chiefs are waiting with bated breath to discover the punishment facing their star receiver Rashee Rice. The NFL is mulling over what to do about Rice, who turned himself in to police earlier this month following a street racing incident on a Dallas freeway that caused a multi-car pileup. The incident could have an impact on Kansas City‘s draft plans this week, as the 2024 draft begins Thursday in Detroit.

According to a new report Monday, the NFL is close to finalizing and announcing Rice’s punishment — and it sounds like it will be bad news for Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid, entering a season in which they want to lead the Chiefs to an historic Super Bowl three-peat.

Multi-game suspension expected

ESPN‘s Adam Schefter has reported that Rice can expect to be suspended for multiple games to begin the 2024 NFL season this fall. The league is taking very seriously the charges that Rice is facing — including six counts of collision involving bodily injury and an aggravated assault charge — and commissioner Roger Goodell is preparing to act accordingly.

It remains to be seen whether the NFL will confirm a Rice suspension this week, but it seems possible that the 24-year-old could miss several games to start next season — meaning the cap-constrained Chiefs might lean toward drafting another young wide receiver on day one of the 2024 draft, or early on day two. Mahomes has previously expressed admiration for Texas‘ Xavier Worthy, who set a new 40-yard dash time record during this year’s combine.

Rice could also be issued a hefty fine by the NFL, in addition to the punishment that local authorities and prosecutors are pursuing, in what has suddenly become one of the most fascinating stories of the offseason — and one that could change the balance of power in the AFC, depending on how much time Mahomes’ favorite wideout could miss.