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Kansas City Chiefs’ Rashee Rice celebrating after scoring a touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons in the second quarter, September 22, 2024.
The Kansas City Chiefs finally seemed to have a strong starting trio at receiver heading into the 2025, with Hollywood Brown, Xavier Worthy and Rashee Rice set to headline at the position come the fall.
Whilst Brown and Rice are both coming off serious injuries suffered early on last season, both should be healthy and ready for 2025. The onus will be particularly heavy on Rice, who started at a strong pace in 2024, generating 288 receiving yards in his first four games before injuring his knee against the Chargers last September.
But despite their presence and that of former second round pick, Skyy Moore, and veteran Juju Smith Schuster, the Chiefs decided to draft another wideout early on in day three of the draft, selecting Utah State’s Jalen Royals with the 133rd pick (round four) in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Royals Believed To Do Big Things In Rookie Season
Although Royals has yet to play a snap for the team in the pre or regular season, the Georgia native has already been predicted to make a big splash in just his very first year.
Bleacher Report’s Damian Parson created a list of five players selected on day three of this past draft who could have an impact straight from the get go – of which Royals’ was a name listed.
“Chiefs director of player personnel Ryne Nutt told reporters he believes Royals offers a similar skill set to Rice’s, saying, “His game is very similar to Rashee’s.” Parson wrote.
Rice is an alignment-versatile receiver whom Andy Reid utilizes to create mismatches against the defense. The 6’0″, 195-pound Royals’ height and weight are close to the 6’1″ Rice’s, but he is a better raw athlete, per their respective athletic testing numbers.”
“Rice missed the majority of the 2024 season due to an LCL injury. He may be limited to start this year as well. This opens the door for Royals. His run-after-catch abilities can be amplified inside this Chiefs offense. If the opportunities arise, Royals’ talent is there to make a lasting impact.”
Royals’ Game ‘Very Similar’ To Rice’s
An interesting tidbit from Parson’s article is the reference back to teh Chiefs’ believe that Royals as a player, looks very similar to Rice.
Obviously unlike Rice, Jalen Royals has not been tested at the pro level and shown himself to be a very talented starting receiver. Yet, given Rice’s impending return from injury this autumn, it would not be shocking if Royals gets a surprisingly high amount of snaps as the 2023 second round pick ensures he is back to 100% health.
Issues concerning Royals’ deltoid ligament in his foot caused him to fall out of the day two selections, where he was widely believed to fall prior to the draft.
As such, the Chiefs get a discount on a player coming off an injury… to act as a replacement for another player coming off an injury.
Daniel Arwas Daniel Arwas is a sports writer who covers the NFL for Heavy.com. Daniel began his career in sports writing in 2022 and has covered the NFL and college football for Gridiron Heroics and The Hammer. More about Daniel Arwas
