Andy Reid On Jalen Royals: “Sharp, Strong, And Works Hard”
Jun 20, 2025, 3:07 PM
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JUNE 19: Head coach Andy Reid of the Kansas City Chiefs talks to members of the press during a press conference at The University of Kansas Health System Training Complex on June 19, 2025 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)
(Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)
The Kansas City Chiefs may have gotten the steal of the draft in the fourth round with wide receiver Jalen Royals.
Head coach Andy Reid had very high praise for the rookie out of Utah State following the Chiefs’ OTAs.
A look at #Chiefs 2025 4th round draft pick Jalen Royals – WR out of Utah State 🏈 pic.twitter.com/TMJyAFrJsB
— Sports Radio 810 WHB (@SportsRadio810) June 18, 2025
“(Jalen Royals) looks like he’s a sharp kid. He works hard,” said Reid. “He’s strong. A little bit like Rashee (Rice) that way. 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.”
Will Jalen Royals See The Field In His Rookie Year?
As it stands, Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy, and Marquise Brown are above Royals on the depth chart. JuJu Smith-Schuster and Skyy Moore are likely to get looks as well.
However, Royals is right in that conversation. Earlier in the offseason, he said that he is learning all positions in Reid’s offense.
Chiefs rookie receiver Jalen Royals admits that Andy Reid’s playbook is rather complex. Like all new players, he’s learning every position within the offense. pic.twitter.com/I3wN6HuL5w
— Pete Sweeney (@pgsween) May 3, 2025
He won’t be a starter, but will almost definitely get on the field this year.
How much time he gets and his impact have yet to be seen, but early impressions point toward him getting a shot in year one.
The Chiefs open their preseason against the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday, August 9. They will face the Los Angeles Chargers in week one on Friday, September 5.
About Jalen Royals
Royals attended Hillgrove High School in Powder Springs, Georgia, where he found success in football, track & field, and basketball. After playing in 11 games for Georgia Military College in 2021, Royals joined the Utah State football program in 2022.
He played in 12 games with one start in his first season with the Aggies, but didn’t really find his stride until his junior year.
You know we love our Royals 👑
With the 133rd pick of the 2025 NFL Draft, we have selected @RoyalsJalen! pic.twitter.com/1CusuIORrv
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) April 26, 2025
In 2023, he burst onto the scene in the Mountain West. With 71 receptions for 1,080 yards and 15 touchdowns, Royals earned first-team All-Mountain West honors as well as being named a College Football Network Third-Team All-American. He became the 13th player in school history to record 1,000 receiving yards in a single season and also led the nation with seven touchdown receptions of 50 or more yards.
His senior season was cut short due to injuries, but he was as impressive while active. In seven games, he posted 55 receptions for 834 yards and six touchdowns. Despite missing almost half of the season, he still earned second-team All-Mountain West honors.
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