Unless you are a first or second-round selection, most rookies have a big mountain to climb to make the final roster, but Kansas City Chiefs receiver Jalen Royals might already have a spot locked up.
The speedy receiver was drafted in the fourth round, and with the Chiefs only having Xavier Worthy as a genuine speed merchant, adding a playmaker like Royals gives Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid a weapon who can be utilized in a number of different ways.
With his YAC [yards after catch] potential, Royals much like Worthy, could be a devastating weapon if used correctly, and we imagine Reid and the offensive staff have already added plays to the playbook to utilize his skill set.
But as a fourth-rounder, he might have to shine in training camp to get a roster spot, right? Wrong, as Chiefs western regional scout Greg Castillo thinks Royals is a capable starter from Day 1.
"He can make an impact immediately," Castillo said via ESPN. "The [run-after-catch] ability stands out, and that was through his three years at Utah State. He can separate with the short route and he can separate with the intermediate route. He's got a ton of versatility.
"That's the beauty about this player is the pure versatility. He can beat a guy off press coverage [or] he can run right by you. When the ball is in his hands, he can run right through you."
(David Butler II-Imagn Images)
Royals might have landed in the exact right spot with Reid's offensive wizardry and Mahomes as his quarterback, as opportunities will be coming his way in the regular season.
But before that can happen, Royals must show he is worthy of the targets, and that begins in training camp. As we saw with Mahomes and Worthy last season, chemistry and confidence between quarterback and receiver takes time, and Royals is behind a handful of receivers vying for snaps.
However, it appears that a spot for Royals has already been carved out.
Now it's time to show he deserves that spot.
