
The Kansas City Chiefs offense hasn’t had a genuine home-run threat since Tyreek Hill before last season—enter Xavier Worthy.
Owning the fastest 40-yard dash in scouting combine history, Worthy transferred that to the field to be a great option for Patrick Mahomes in Year 1.
This past draft, the Chiefs went back to the speed merchant well, and drafted Utah State’s Jalen Royals in the fourth round. Boasting 4.42 speed, Royals is another smaller type receiver who is a dynamic weapon when given the chance, and given that Andy Reid will be his play-caller, you can bet he will be schemed up in favorable positions.
Due to this, NFL.com’s Gennaro Filice has named Royals as a sleeper pick for the Chiefs, and listed a stat that will make Chiefs Kingdom’s eyebrows raise.
“Just a well-rounded wideout with great YAC-ability, Royals caught 21 touchdown passes in his final 19 games at Utah State,” Filice writes. “Andy Reid will enjoy scheming up ways for Patrick Mahomes to utilize this new toy.”
Hauling in 21 touchdowns in 19 games is some form line.
Now, we know that he likely won’t produce that in the NFL, but that stat shows that he can be relied upon regularly to be a difference maker. The best thing is, in the Chiefs offense, given the weapons ahead of him on the depth chart, he won’t have to.
A dynamic play-maker, getting Royals, much like Worthy, out in space with quick throws to utilize his YAC ability will be a key ingredient in how Reid gets his rookie going in his offense.
Yes, the Chiefs have a host of weapons for Mahomes, but in Royals, they have another speedy option who, if schemed up with the right plays, could become a nightmare for defenses to deal with.