Despite falling all the way to the fourth round, former Utah State wide receiver Jalen Royals is getting a warm welcome in Kansas City. Following his arrival, there’s been a growing amount of hype for the 133rd overall pick in the draft that may end up raising his stock high enough for him to become a notable weapon for the three-time Super Bowl MVP quarterback, Patrick Mahomes.
There has been all kinds of talk surrounding Royals and his potential impact with Kansas City, from the frivolous, to overall positive draft grades for the Chiefs in selecting the USU star and even being cited as the mostly likely rookie to surpass expectations on the team. Perhaps the most interesting of the preseason hype is Royals’ selection to the NFL Player’s Association Rookie Premiere Player List. According to the NFLPA’s press release, the event “introduces these rising stars to the commercial side of professional football, setting the stage for future endorsement success and financial empowerment.”
In addition to his on-field potential being praised by writers and fans alike, Royals seems to be drawing the eyes of the commercial and marketing aspect of the sport, which could see him rise even quicker as a star if he performs.
Royals has already done some work with the Chiefs. He participated in the team’s rookie mini-camp this past weekend. His first day was reportedly not spectacular, but his second day was apparently much better, catching 10 passes between his time in 11-on-11 and 7-on-7 drills. The majority of the offseason work for Royals will truly begin in a few weeks on May 27 when the OTAs for the Kansas City Chiefs start. That’s when Royals will have to work his way up a depth chart that already has three established rotation players in Xavier Worthy, Rashee Rice and Hollywood Brown.
