Nothing is proven yet for any rookie from the 2025 NFL Draft, but even the earliest of impressions are positive for Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Jalen Royals.
The Chiefs selected Royals in the fourth round out of Utah State, giving them another solid investment at a position that’s received a previous run of early-round picks—from Skyy Moore in 2022 to Rashee Rice in 2023 to Xavier Worthy in 2024.
As for Royals, the Chiefs aren’t expected to rely too heavily on the rookie wideout in 2025 due to the presence of Rice and Worthy along with returning free agent Marquise “Hollywood” Brown. That trio provides a solid core of proven receivers for the offense to go alongside a strong tight end room for Patrick Mahomes under center.
That said, injuries always play a major role in any given season, and the Chiefs know that well after suffering season-ending injuries to both Rice and Brown last year. Royals provides important short-term depth and long-term upside.
Rookie wide receiver Jalen Royals is already turning heads at Chiefs OTAs.
It also can’t hurt to have more competition on the depth char,t, and it’s entirely possible that Royals makes it impossible for the Chiefs to keep him on the sidelines. The early looks from rookie minicamp and offseason training activities have made a believer out of head coach Andy Reid. When asked about Royals’ development, Reid had nothing but positive things to say on Thursday:
“[Royals] looks like he’s a sharp kid. He works hard,” said Reid. “He’s strong. A little bit like Rashee that way. Probably more like Rashee than Worthy. He’s got a little bit more beef to him. Thick lower body. But again, strong and he picks stuff up. He doesn’t say a whole lot. He’s very, very quiet. But he picks things up and does a nice job with it.”
Royals’ workouts are a positive sign that he’s healthy and ready to move on from a deltoid tear that occurred on a punt return last season with the Aggies. The injury was even bothering him in the pre-draft season.
Royals had 53 catches for 834 yards last season in his senior season at Utah State and led the nation in receiving touchdowns with 15 during his junior year.
Perhaps Chiefs Kingdom would be wise to think more highly of Royals at this stage, and it doesn’t hurt that he was also selected to go to the NFLPA’s Rookie Premiere. It’s not hard to believe that good things are ahead for Royals, but maybe those things will come sooner than later.
