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Adam Teicher
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas Metropolis Chiefs preliminary curiosity in drafting vast receiver Jalen Royals occurred due to his playmaking capability in faculty. Royals had 21 touchdowns and a wholesome 15.2-yards per catch common in 20 video games over his ultimate two seasons at Utah State.
The extra they checked out Royals, the extra they noticed extra qualities that reminded them of one in every of their very own main vast receivers, Rashee Rice.
“His recreation is similar to Rashee’s,” director of participant personnel Ryne Nutt stated after the Chiefs drafted Royals in April within the fourth spherical. “He is obtained massive fingers, robust fingers, and he is superb after the catch.
“[Run after the catch] is a giant a part of our offense. That is one thing we search for in receivers. We search for velocity. The child had that 4.40 [40-yard dash at the scouting combine]. We search for power, and he has that. Then we search for route working and that is in all probability an space the place Rashee needed to type of develop slightly bit, so we type of thought they have been comparable in that respect.”
The Chiefs didn’t get many massive passing performs final season. One purpose was the lack of Rice early within the yr due to a knee harm. They’re anticipating Rice again as a part of a veteran group of vast receivers that additionally contains Hollywood Brown, Xavier Worthy and JuJu Smith-Schuster.
That does not essentially get rid of the probabilities of Royals getting taking part in time as a rookie.
“He could make an affect instantly,” stated Greg Castillo, the Chiefs’ western regional scout. “The [run-after-catch] capability stands out, and that was via his three years at Utah State. He can separate with the quick route and he can separate with the intermediate route. He is obtained a ton of versatility.
“That is the wonder about this participant is the pure versatility. He can beat a man off press protection [or] he can run proper by you. When the ball is in his fingers, he can run proper via you.”
Rice was main the NFL with 24 receptions via the primary three video games final season earlier than his knee harm. He was additionally the chief in yards after the catch on the time with 185.
The Chiefs missed his capability to take a brief go and switch it into an extended acquire. They might have another choice for that in Royals, who had greater than half of his 834 receiving yards final season after the catch.
“Simply attempting so as to add a pair yards after the catch has undoubtedly been a consider my recreation,” Royals stated. “I performed working again rising up. I am used to getting yards after contact. Perhaps 3 yards every catch could possibly be useful.”
The Chiefs did not essentially enter the draft in search of a large receiver with abilities just like these of Rice. They drafted a large receiver within the prime two rounds in every of the three earlier years, together with Rice in 2023 and Worthy final yr.
These picks, plus the offseason signings of Brown and Smith-Schuster, gave the Chiefs a stable begin in constructing a depth chart at vast receiver. However when the fourth spherical got here round and Royals was out there, the Chiefs could not resist.
“We watched his tape earlier than the Senior Bowl [and thought], ‘Hey, this man’s type of fascinating,”’ Nutt stated. “Then he goes to the Senior Bowl and we thought he did properly so he obtained much more on the radar. Then he goes to the mix and runs a 4.40 and he jumps a 36 [inch broad jump] and we’re like, ‘Oh, this child’s explosive.’ Then you definately get the type of coaches concerned and we Zoom him, and we speak and we’re like, ‘Yeah, we may use this child.’
“With Rashee getting back from harm and attempting to get proper, the hopes are this child can step in and attempt to get some taking part in time and assist us out.”
