Everything Chiefs fans need to know about K.C.'s Round 4 pick Utah State WR Jalen Royals
Everything Chiefs fans need to know about K.C.'s Round 4 pick Utah State WR Jalen Royals
The Kansas City Chiefs needed to add a pass-catcher during the 2025 NFL draft, and elected to wait until Round 4 to select Utah State Aggies wide receiver Jalen Royals, who may prove to be one of the most underrated prospects in his class.
Though a foot injury may have affected his draft stock, Royals was ultra-productive as a collegian and should be expected to push for playing time in a rotational role next season.
Take a look at everything the Chiefs had to say about Royals in their official draft packet:
Jalen Royals college bio
"Spent three seasons at Utah State (2022-24)… Appeared in 32 games (21 starts) and recorded 126 catches for 1,914 receiving yards and 21 touchdowns… His 21 receiving touchdowns rank third all-time in school history… Recorded 55 receptions for 834 yards and six touchdowns in 2024… Spent one season at Georgia Military College (2021)… Recorded seven catches for 92 yards and two touchdowns… Was named the Senior Bowl and Shrine Bowl Offensive Player of the Week … Second-team All-Mountain West (2024)… College Football Network third-team All-American (2023)… First-team All-Mountain West (2023)… Academic All-Mountain West (2022)."
Jalen Royals personal notes
Had 26 catches for 455 receiving yards and four touchdowns during his senior season at Hillgrove High School (Ga.).
Was an all-state high jumper and placed sixth at the 7A state track and field championships.
Also played basketball.
Jalen Royals draft notes
Kansas City has selected fourteen wide receivers in the fourth round with the addition of Royals.Prior to his selection, the franchise drafted WR Jehu Chesson (2017, Michigan), WR DemarcusRobinson (2016, Florida), RB/WR De'Anthony Thomas (2014, Oregon), WR Devon Wylie (2012,Fresno State), WR Will Franklin (2008, Missouri), WR Craphonso Thorpe (2005, Florida State),WR Samie Parker (2004, Oregon), WR Larry Parker (1999, USC), WR Fred Jones (1990,Grambling), WR J.R. Ambrose (1988, Mississippi), WR Chas Fox (1986, Furman), WR RonWashington (1981, Arizona State) and WR Andy Hamilton (1972, Louisiana State) in the fourthround.
Royals becomes the first wide receiver to be selected by the Chiefs in the fourth round since WRJehu Chesson was taken 139th overall in the 2017 NFL Draft.
The selection of Royals marks the second year in a row where the Chiefs have drafted anoffensive player in the fourth round following the selection of TE Jared Wiley out of TCU withthe 131st pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Royals was the 19th wide receiver taken overall and the fifth wide receiver taken in the fourthround of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Royals is the first Utah State Aggie to be selected during the 2025 NFL Draft and the only formerAggie on the current Chiefs roster.
What did Royals have to say after the Chiefs picked him?
Q: What has your experience been like during this draft, and the excitement about being drafted by theChiefs?
ROYALS: 'It's been crazy. Hearing all the names being called (and) passing me, then to hear my name inthe fourth round. It was an amazing call and just a blessing itself.'
Q: You've had an interesting journey to the NFL – what has been your driving force?
ROYALS: 'Just my why. Making it to the NFL has been a lifelong dream. Playing from JUCO and grindingthere, then getting an offer to Utah State and grinding there. Now, I'm a Chief. Grinding has been my whyright there.'
Q: How excited are you to be a part of this Andy Reid offense and everything they've been able to dohere?
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Associated Press
25 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Titans embrace Callahan's competition hoping to boost performance, accountability and wins
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Drop a ball, lose points. A red zone touchdown catch isn't worth six but still nets points. Jump offside earns a deduction. Lose a wide receiver in coverage also hurts. The Tennessee Titans don't kick off coach Brian Callahan's second season until Sept. 7 at Denver. With the Titans going 3-14 and losing the final six games, Callahan made some changes all designed to help Tennessee win more in 2025. The biggest new offseason feature is an internal competition. Callahan broke up the Titans into eight teams with a captain and assistant with rankings updated daily. Teams earn — or lose — points for what they do particularly on the field. For pro athletes, that's all they needed to hear. Outside linebacker Dre'Mont Jones, an offseason free agent signee going into his seventh NFL season, said Wednesday that the Titans are '100%' bought into Callahan's offseason competition. Jones said everything they do is a competition, keeping energy high. 'We need that competition,' Jones said. 'We have a young football team. We need to keep that edge and that competitive (approach) throughout the whole entire offseason leading into the season.' Tennessee lost six games in Callahan's debut season by eight points or fewer. Combined with a roster stocked with 48 new players, this competition is designed to have the Titans hold each other accountable for mistakes including turnovers, penalties and mental errors that prove so costly in an NFL season. Callahan knows this won't show results that matter until September and October at the earliest. This is all part of his focus on doing everything possible for the Titans to be better. 'A lot of it was kind of through this offseason program that we developed and how do we best win football games? And how do I best put our team in position to do that? How do I coach that better? And how do I do a better job from a leadership perspective for our players and our staff?' Callahan said. Jones is on a team captained by running back Tony Pollard who likes how Callahan also mixed up assignments in the locker room. No longer are position groups sitting together. Wide receiver Calvin Ridley is next to rookie quarterback Cam Ward. 'You got to talk to different guys, get to know people throughout the locker room,' said Pollard, who now has cornerback L'Jarius Sneed and defensive lineman Keondre Coburn to the right. 'So it's just, it's a great thing just connecting with the whole team.' That talking isn't done just inside the locker room. Part of the schedule includes time for each group to get to know each other better by discussing four H's: history, heroes, hopes and heartbreaks. 'That's just a great thing just learning backstories, what guys have been through and what they've had to overcome to be where they are now,' Pollard said. Callahan hasn't shared what the rewards will be for the winners. It doesn't matter. Linebacker Cody Barton, who signed a three-year deal in March, joked that he heard winners got a car and asked for that to be confirmed. A pat on the back also works. Right guard Kevin Zeitler is another newcomer going into his 14th NFL season. He said every NFL team has its own approach to the offseason program with some business-like, others 'super competitive and fiery' with others making it fun. 'Having an extra competition throughout the day to be more on your details. ... it makes it more fun,' Zeitler said. Treylon Burks working Callahan said Treylon Burks, the Titans' 18th pick overall in 2022 as part of the A.J. Brown trade, is doing more in his rehab from a partially torn ACL that limited him to five games and four catches last season. Burks is doing more than Callahan expected at the beginning of the offseason program. Burks is doing more individual drills and routes. Callahan said the hope is Burks will be cleared by the start of training camp. ___ AP NFL:
Newsweek
40 minutes ago
- Newsweek
DeMarcus Cousins Suspended for Season After Altercation With Fan
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Former NBA All-Star center and lottery pick DeMarcus Cousins has been suspended from the Puerto Rican basketball league after an altercation with a fan. More NBA news: Former NBA All-Star Believes Thunder Resemble Prime Warriors Team The National Superior Basketball Association announced the following sanctions and fines for Cousins. "Guaynabo Mets player DeMarcus Cousins has been suspended for the remainder of the 2025 season and fined $4,250 for a disqualifying foul, a technical foul, and acts that incite violence or provocation. "In addition, the player must show cause why he should not be fined an additional $5,750, given the seriousness of the incident. "In view of the above, the player faces fines of up to $10,000." Dwight Howard #39 of the Philadelphia 76ers and DeMarcus Cousins #15 of the Houston Rockets speak before playing at Wells Fargo Center on February 17, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Dwight Howard #39 of the Philadelphia 76ers and DeMarcus Cousins #15 of the Houston Rockets speak before playing at Wells Fargo Center on February 17, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Photo byThe incident, which took place on Monday, saw Cousins confront a fan courtside. He was eventually ejected, and as he returned to the locker room, fans threw drinks at him, which led him to confront some of the fans. The 34-year-old signed with the Guaynabo Mets in late April for the 2025 season. He had played with the team in 2023 and was sensational. In that season, Cousins averaged 20.4 points, 10.9 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game in 25.4 minutes per game. He shot 44 percent from three and 69 percent from the charity stripe in free throws. As for this season, Cousins was great, averaging 18.2 points per game, nine rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 1.4 blocks in 10 games played this season. Cousins, a four-time All-Star and two-time All-NBA selection, spent 11 seasons in the league. Over the course of 654 regular season games, he suited up for the Sacramento Kings, New Orleans Pelicans, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, LA Clippers, Milwaukee Bucks, and Denver Nuggets. A former standout at Kentucky, Cousins put together a strong NBA resume, averaging 19.6 points, 10.2 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game on .460/.331/.737 shooting splits. The Kings made him the No. 5 overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft, and early in his career, he looked like a franchise cornerstone. But injuries changed the course of his journey — most notably a torn left Achilles tendon in 2018 during his first full season with the Pelicans. That injury marked a turning point. His production declined, and he never fully regained his dominant form. From that point on, he became somewhat of a journeyman, struggling to find long-term footing with any team. At 34, Cousins could still have something left in the tank, but teams across the league have been reluctant to take a chance. More NBA news: Former All-Star Center DeMarcus Cousins Signing with Overseas Team
Yahoo
40 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Yankees announce lineup for Wednesday's game vs Kansas City Royals
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Aaron Judge's monstrous 469-foot home run, and Jazz Chisholm Jr.'s continuing unharmonious relationship with the Royals and their fans, highlighted Tuesday's series opener at Kauffman Stadium. In Wednesday night's middle game of a three-game set, the AL East-leading Yankees (40-25) are scheduled to start Clarke Schmidt (2-3, 4.04 ERA) against lefty Kris Bubic (5-3, 1.43 ERA) for the Royals (34-33), in fourth place in the AL Central. Giancarlo Stanton, Marcus Stroman at Somerset At Class AA Somerset, Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton (elbow tendinitis) is expected to make his second straight minor league rehab start Wednesday at DH, and starter Marcus Stroman (left knee inflammation) begin his rehab assignment at Somerset. Yankees lineup vs Royals on Wednesday Paul Goldschmidt, 1B Ben Rice, DH Aaron Judge, RF Cody Bellinger, LF Jazz Chisholm Jr., 3B Anthony Volpe, SS Trent Grisham, CF DJ LeMahieu, 2B Austin Wells, C This article originally appeared on NY Yankees lineup for Wednesday game vs Kansas City Royals
