One of the biggest weaknesses the Kansas City Chiefs have dealt with for the past two seasons is consistent production from the receiver position. A lack of depth and a frustrating injury to Rashee Rice have limited what the group could accomplish for the past two years. However, it is important to note that this is a privileged complaint with Kansas City's season still ending in the Super Bowl each of the last three years.
Still, it would be exciting to see the receiver position put towards the top of the offseason priority list. This included retaining veteran contributors and bringing in new faces.
The biggest puzzle piece will be the eventual return of Rice. While the receiver is ready to start the year, a possible suspension continues to hang over the Chiefs' star. Losing a key player for any time is never ideal, but it has presented an opportunity that rookie Jalen Royals is taking full advantage of.
Royals was impressive in the rookie minicamp and has continued this trend, working in the early days of camp. Patrick Mahomes is already starting to show trust in the rookie, with an obvious chemistry starting to develop. It is exactly the answer KC needed as they deal with likely losing Rice for the first games of the season.
Chiefs Rookie Receiver Jalen Royals Continues to Impress
Jalen Royals has been getting involved a lot with Patrick Mahomes so far in training camp.
— Farzin Vousoughian (@Farzin21) July 24, 2025
Royals was a 4th-round selection and simply expected to be a depth option when the pick was first made. As the offseason continued, this perspective changed with Royals appearing to be a potential bargain and having a clear fit within Andy Reid's offense. This hasn't changed in the early days of camp, with the rookie starting to build a case to crack the starting lineup. Even if Rice is available to start the season, the Chiefs could put the rookie at the top of the rotation.
However, the more likely path is Rice being put on the shelf and Royals having a chance to step in and continue to be one of the better stories for the Chiefs. The fact that a 4th-round pick is making a push for starting reps speaks to just how well this front office continues to manage its cap space and draft picks. Kansas City has found the perfect balance of retaining key pieces and not overpaying for stars the franchise is able to replace.
Royals is just the latest example of this for a franchise that continues to define prestige. There is zero reason to believe this is going to change in the 2025 season, with the rookie receiver serving as the perfect example of what has helped Kansas City continue to achieve greatness.