One year after taking Xavier Worthy in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, the Kansas City Chiefs brought in another pass catcher this year by selecting wide receiver Jalen Royals out of Utah State in the fourth round.
Royals, who ran a 4.42 40-yard dash at the scouting combine, brings another element of speed to the Chiefs offense that could be without Rashee Rice early in the season if the league decides to suspend him. If Rice were to miss any time, it would open the door for players like Royals who could make a strong impression in camp to find meaningful playing time in the regular season.
Just days into the team beginning training camp, Royals has grabbed the attention of head coach Andy Reid who had plenty of praise for the rookie, but also noted there's a long way to go ahead of him.
Chiefs HC Andy Reid on WR Jalen Royals: "He's very smart, because we're in our third install today and he's able to retain what we've introduced. He's made some catches. Does he have a long way to go? Yeah, he's got to keep working through this. We'll see how he does when (the…
— Charles Goldman (@goldmctNFL) July 24, 2025
Kansas City never seems to be short on playmakers, and Royals just adds to their very talented offensive depth chart coming into this season. The early returns have been impressive, but the rookie will have an uphill battle to find meaningful playing time early in the season.