Anybody who has followed the NFL knows that bloodlines run deep in football. Players who were great in bygone eras have often produced players who are great today. Patrick Surtain was a Pro Bowl cornerback with the Dolphins and Chiefs in the 2000s. Now, his son Patrick Surtain II is a Pro Bowl cornerback in Denver. Chris Long and Kyle Long, the sons of Hall of Famer Howie Long, both became great players as well. It shouldn't be a surprise the Chicago Bears might be showing real interest in the son of the greatest wide receiver of all time.
Jerry Rice holds every receiving record imaginable in NFL history. It felt like a foregone conclusion that his children would end up making their way to the league at some point. At last, the moment has arrived. Brenden Rice enjoyed a career-best season at USC in 2023, scoring 12 touchdowns. Now, he is making his way to the pros and drawing a lot of interest from several teams. According to Justin Melo of The Draft Network, it appears one of those teams is the Bears.
The Chicago Bears' interest in Rice isn't just because of his father.
There is plenty of evidence to suggest the kid can play. While not the fleet-footed route runner his old man was, Brenden makes up for it with a physical brand of football. He uses his sizable 6'3 frame to win 50-50 matchups, turning himself into a basketball power forward on several occasions. He also has just enough speed to threaten down the field. Like his father, he flashes soft, well-trained hands when making the catch. It isn't hard to understand the Bears' interest in him.
The younger Rice has the size and physicality this regime prefers. He would give them a necessary red zone threat while also becoming a notable factor in the run game. Hard work is something he's no stranger to. Current projections have him going somewhere in the 3rd or 4th rounds. That is where the Chicago Bears pick after their 9th overall selection in the 1st. If they don't take a wide receiver at that spot, then aiming for Rice later down the line would make sense.
