Kansas City Chiefs

The Kansas City Chiefs had another tremendous season that ultimately ended with a loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl, but the Chiefs' typical high-powered offense was notably absent for much of the year.

That's something quarterback Patrick Mahomes wants to change in 2025.

"Everything looks great right now getting the guys back and healthy," Mahomes said, per ESPN's Adam Teicher. "I think the offense has a chance to be really, really good. The core group will be back in its entirety, so the goal is to try to build on it and get even better and try to get back to some of the explosive passing plays that we've done in years past."

According to Teicher, Mahomes led Kansas City's running backs and wide receivers through a passing camp in Texas this week as he looks to ignite the offense heading into offseason workouts. The group featured receivers Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy and Hollywood Brown.

The Chiefs recorded just 222.4 passing yards per game last season, a number that ranked 14th in the NFL. Mahomes threw for 3,928 yards, his fewest since taking over as Kansas City's starter in 2018.

Rice, who recorded 938 receiving yards as a rookie, played just four games last season, which contributed to the lack of explosive plays. The speedy Worthy had his moments in 2024, but ultimately was still gaining his bearings as a rookie.

An offseason of working together and a healthy roster should see the Chiefs' offense return to its typical self in 2025.

The Kansas City Chiefs selected SMU RB Brashard Smith with the No. 228 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft.

Smith is the best satellite running back in the 2025 NFL draft.

Smith is a former wide receiver who converted to running back and is noticeable on film. He is a dynamic weapon in the passing game out of the backfield.

Smith was a slot receiver at Miami. His experience running routes from various receiver alignments will pay dividends with a creative offensive coordinator in the NFL who is not afraid to deploy him in that fashion. Out of the backfield, he is a mismatch waiting to happen for linebackers due to his electric movement patterns and route-running.

Smith has played full-time running back for only one season. He adapted fairly well, running with vision and patience behind his blockers. He changes gears with quickness and suddenness. Smith is a dynamic slashing runner who will fit well inside the West Coast/wide-zone schemes. He has the burst and speed to beat second-level defenders to the perimeter, in addition to creating explosive plays both as a runner and receiver.

The concerns with Smith’s profile begin with his small frame. He is not built to handle a heavy, bellcow-like workload. He doesn’t consistently run behind his pads and with power on contact. At times, he will turn down running through an alley defender in tight quarters.

Overall, Smith projects as a dynamic change-of-pace rotational back. His pass-catching prowess and explosive speed will enable him to create mismatches in the NFL. He will be relied upon for big plays down the field and is a threat at any moment.

MEASUREMENT AND WORKOUT RESULTS

HEIGHT: 5'10"

WEIGHT: 194

HAND: 8¾"

ARM: 30½"

WINGSPAN: 74"

40-YARD DASH: 4.39

VERTICAL: 32.5"

BROAD: 9'9"

POSITIVES

— Dynamic mover in space. Will make defenders miss in space due to elusiveness.

— Great receiving ability. Will run various routes from the slot and out of the backfield.

— Big-time top-end speed to generate explosive plays down the field.

NEGATIVES

— Small and undersized frame. Do not expect a heavy workload in the NFL.

— Run power when pressing lanes downhill. Does not finish runs with a pop.

— Increasing his effectiveness in pass protection.

NOTES

— Born April 11, 2003

— 4-star recruit in 2021 class, per 247Sports

— 2024 First-team All-ACC; Third-team AP All-American All-Purpose

— 2023 Second-team All-ACC

GRADE: 6.5 (Potential Role Player — 4th Round)

OVERALL RANK: 168

POSITION RANK: RB20

PRO COMPARISON: Shades of Bucky Irving

Written by B/R NFL Scout Dame Parson

The Kansas City Chiefs selected California CB Nohl Williams with the No. 85 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft.

Williams made a name for himself this season as a ball-hawking cornerback, leading the country with seven interceptions. He has good hands, reads the quarterback's eyes well to anticipate throws and tracks the ball like a wide receiver.

Williams is at his best when playing press coverage. He's patient with his hips to avoid opening the gate too soon and has fluid hips to quickly transition to turn and run. He also has good strength and is a heavier corner, which helps him disrupt routes with a one-arm stab when jamming a wide receiver.

However, the Cal product does lack some athleticism and long speed, which showed up in his testing at the combine. That can cause him to fall out of phase against dig routes and makes him susceptible to getting beat deep in man coverage, especially against double moves.

Against the run, Williams is willing to get involved in run fits, has good tackling form and rarely misses tackles. He does enough to be a sufficient run defender, but he isn't super aggressive in this area.

Overall, Williams would be a good fit as a second or third corner for a team that uses a lot of press coverage. He doesn't have the shutdown skills to be a true CB1, but his ball skills can help make up for some of his athletic shortcomings.

MEASUREMENT AND WORKOUT RESULTS

HEIGHT: 6'0"

WEIGHT: 199

HAND: 9”

ARM: 30¾”

WINGSPAN: 74⅞”

40-YARD DASH: 4.50

3-CONE: 6.97

SHUTTLE: 4.25

VERTICAL: 33.5"

BROAD: 10'0"

POSITIVES

— Elite ball production. Led the country with seven interceptions last season and had 14 during his five-year college career with 25 passes defended. Has good hands for interceptions.

— Good at reading the quarterback's eyes, anticipating throws and tracking the ball to get interceptions when playing zone coverage.

— Shows good patience in zone coverage to keep his hips square and avoid opening the gate early. Has impressive strength to disrupt wide receivers' routes at the line of scrimmage with a one-arm jam, and has quick/fluid hips to turn and run.

— Decent acceleration out of his break to drive on curl routes when playing off coverage.

— Willing run defender who will get involved in tackles, using good pad level and wrapping up to minimize misses.

NEGATIVES

— Just an average athlete overall with underwhelming testing numbers, which can show up in man coverage against better competition.

— Subpar change of direction. Takes a lot of rounded cuts, which can lead to separation versus dig routes.

— Below-average makeup speed to recover if he loses at the line of scrimmage in press coverage or falls out of phase.

— Will occasionally get caught with his eyes in the backfield in zone coverage and struggles to protect his blind spot.

— Gets grabby and will lean on wide receivers when he gets beat.

NOTES

— 3-star recruit in the 2020 class, per 247Sports

— Played at UNLV from 2020 to 2022 before transferring to Cal in 2023

— No major injuries

— 2022 Honorable Mention All-Mountain West

GRADE: 6.6 (Potential Role Player — 4th Round)

OVERALL RANK: 153

POSITION RANK: CB18

PRO COMPARISON: Paulson Adebo

Written by B/R NFL Scout Matt Holder

The Kansas City Chiefs selected Tennessee DL Omarr Norman-Lott with the No. 63 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft.

Omarr Norman-Lott spent three years at Arizona State before transferring to Tennessee for the final two years of his career and will be an older draft prospect, turning 23 years old this spring. Despite that, he still has limited on-field experience as injuries and being a rotational player throughout his career have limited his time on the field.

Norman-Lott has potential due to his combination of size and athleticism. He can be a productive pass rusher with his movement skills, showing the quickness and twitch to develop a good pass rush arsenal if he improves his use of hands. Also, he's been an effective rusher from several different alignments, from a 1- to a 4i-technique.

However, Norman-Lott has been in two programs and was in college for five years, so it's a little concerning that his technique isn't up to par yet. Additionally, he lacks lower body strength to anchor and stay in his gap against the run. That said, he's shown the ability to win at the point of attack when he lands his hands first and keeps his pads down.

The former Volunteer is a project despite his age and time spent in college. That could cap his ceiling with some teams as he might be viewed as an interior pass-rush specialist at the next level.

Meanwhile, other clubs could see his potential and view his lack of on-field experience as the reason his technique isn't up to snuff, making Norman-Lott a polarizing prospect in this draft class whose draft projection could vary from team to team.

MEASUREMENT AND WORKOUT RESULTS

HEIGHT: 6'2"

WEIGHT: 295

HAND: 11⅛"

ARM: 33⅝"

WINGSPAN: 80½”

40-YARD DASH: 5.15

VERTICAL: 31.5"

BROAD: 9'5"

POSITIVES

– Solid size and is a good athlete with some quickness/twitch.

– Impressive get-off, accelerates off the line of scrimmage well to occasionally get penetration.

– Sets up his pass-rush moves well by getting to square to give himself a two-way go and can use his quickness to win around the edges with stick moves.

– Has the athleticism to develop a good pass-rush arsenal if his use of hands improves.

– Good agility to be effective as the looper in line games and has decent bend at the top of the rush.

– Good pass-rush motor to get coverage sacks.

– Impressive upper body strength to win at the point of attack as a run defender.

NEGATIVES

– Sub-par lower body strength to anchor and hold his gap against the run. Also reduces the effectiveness of his bull rush.

– Turns his shoulders when taking on blocks, making it easier for offensive linemen to wheel him out of his gap.

– Appears to have shorter arms.

– Use of hands as a pass-rusher is subpar; he often misses with his hands/initial chops and allows offensive linemen to get into his body.

– Needs to rush with a better plan, lacks counter moves.

– Older prospect who has never been a full-time starter and has primarily been used as a rotational player/pass-rusher over the last two years at Tennessee.

NOTES

– Born Mar. 11, 2002

– A 4-star recruit in the 2020 class, per 247Sports

– Injuries: 2025 (Knee, discovered at NFL Combine and could be chronic according to A to Z Sports' Ryan Roberts), 2023 (Undisclosed, missed 3 games), 2022 (Undisclosed, missed 3 games)

– Suspended for the first half of one game in 2023 for an in-game fight

– Transferred from ASU ahead of the 2023 season

GRADE: 7.0 (High-Level Backup/Potential Starter – 3rd Round)

OVERALL RANK: 110

POSITION RANK: DL11

PRO COMPARISON: Maliek Collins

Written by B/R NFL Scout Matt Holder

The Kansas City Chiefs added Notre Dame EDGE R.J. Oben as an undrafted free agent after the 2025 NFL draft.

R.J. Oben has NFL bloodlines and certainly looks the part with his size and length. He has solid strength to help set the edge as a run defender and has shown a couple of pass-rush moves he can win with. However, he didn't make much of an impact in his one year at Notre Dame and ultimately isn't an NFL-level athlete.

On an undrafted-free-agent contract, Oben should have a chance to make a roster this fall as a base end in even fronts. But he'll likely begin his NFL career on the practice squad to get more time to develop.

MEASUREMENT AND WORKOUT RESULTS

HEIGHT: 6'3"

WEIGHT: 251

HAND: 9¼”

ARM: 33⅝”

WINGSPAN: 82”

40-YARD DASH: 4.93

3-CONE: 7.28

SHUTTLE: 4.60

VERTICAL: 32.5"

BROAD: 9'6"

POSITIVES

— Solid size and arm length for an NFL defensive end.

— Has the upper-body strength and long arms to help get extension as a run defender when he keeps his hands tight.

— Active hands as a pass-rusher.

— Shown a solid hand-swipe move to win around the edge and has a decent inside spin move as a counter.

— High-effort player who will factor into gang-tackles down the field.

NEGATIVES

— Minimal production last season with one sack and 19 total tackles in 16 games.

— Robotic movement skills and a below-average athlete overall. Earned a 5.35 RAS.

— False-steps and stands up out of his stance for a poor get-off.

— Stiff in the hips and ankles, hurting his bend at the top of the rush.

— Hands are often wide and late in both phases of the game, allowing offensive tackles to get into his chest and leading to him getting stuck on blocks.

NOTES

— Born June 17, 2001

— 3-star recruit in the 2019 class, per 247Sports

— Injuries: 2019 Shoulder, season-ending and only played in 4 games, had offseason surgery

— Played at Duke from 2019 to 2023 before transferring to Notre Dame last season

— Father, Roman, had a 12-year NFL career as an offensive tackle and won a Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2002

GRADE: 5.4 (Backup/UDFA with Roster Potential — UDFA)

OVERALL RANK: 312

POSITION RANK: EDGE28

PRO COMPARISON: Romeo Okwara

Written by B/R NFL Scout Matt Holder

The Kansas City Chiefs selected Louisville EDGE Ashton Gillotte with the No. 66 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft.

Ashton Gillotte has impressive strength to be a good power rusher at the next level.

With a teach-tape material bull-rush, using good pad level, tight hands and keeping his feet moving through contact, Gillotte has shown the ability to collapse the pocket against offensive tackles and guards in college. That gives him some position versatility on third downs at the next level.

The Cardinal has also shown a good counter move off his bull rush by selling the bull and working around the edge with a rip move to keep offensive tackles honest. Additionally, he has a solid long arm and has flashed the ability to win with an arm-over move.

However, Gillotte isn't quick-twitched or very explosive. That limits his ability to win with finesse moves and he lacks acceleration off the line of scrimmage to beat tackles with speed around the edge, though he did post a good 40-yard dash time at Louisville's pro day. He also isn't bendy to turn tight corners at the top of the rush. Additionally, he will lose contain against athletic quarterbacks.

As a run defender, the Louisville product strength shows up at the point of attack. He has pop in his hands and takes on blocks with solid pad level to help set the edge. Also, he's disciplined and doesn't fly too far up the field when unblocked, staying close to the line of scrimmage to help make tackles from the backside of zone runs.

Overall, Gillotte is a solid prospect who can develop into a starting defensive end and would be best as a 4i- or 4-technique in even fronts. He could play as a 5-technique in even fronts if needed, but he would be a liability against scrambling quarterbacks. However, his alignment versatility will help him stay on the field on third downs if a team has an athletic pass-rush specialist off the bench.

MEASUREMENT AND WORKOUT RESULTS

HEIGHT: 6'3"

WEIGHT: 264

HAND: 8⅛”

ARM: 31⅞” 

WINGSPAN: 78⅝”

40-YARD DASH: 4.63

VERTICAL: 36.5"

BROAD: 10'0"

POSITIVES

— Good size and a thick build for an NFL defensive end.

— Impressive power as a pass-rusher, he can collapse the pocket as a bull rusher against offensive tackles and guards and has a solid long-arm move.

— Has flashed a decent swim move.

— Strong and physical at the point of attack while also taking on blocks with solid pad level to help set the edge against the run.

— Recognizes when he's unblocked as a run defender and doesn't fly too far up the field, stays close to the heel line.

— High motor effort player.

NEGATIVES

— Not quick-twitched or very explosive, lacks explosiveness off the line of scrimmage to win with speed.

— Pass-rush repertoire is limited to strength and power due to sub-par athleticism.

— A little stiff and tight in the hips to bend at the top of the rush.

— Will lose contain against athletic quarterbacks.

— Below-average at getting off blocks as a run defender, lacks violence to shed and needs to develop a move to escape.

NOTES

— 3-star recruit in the 2021 class, per 247Sports

— No major injuries

— 2023: First-Team All-ACC, Second-Team All-American

— 2022: Honorable Mention All-ACC

GRADE: 6.8 (Potential Role Player — 4th Round)

OVERALL RANK: 134

POSITION RANK: EDGE16

PRO COMPARISON: DeMarcus Walker

Written by B/R NFL Scout Matt Holder

The Kansas City Chiefs added Washington State OT Esa Pole as an undrafted free agent after the 2025 NFL draft.

Esa Pole is a two-year starter at left tackle inside Washington State's 54-46 run-pass split, multiple-run scheme. Pole didn't start playing football until his first year of junior college in 2021. He has a thick, stout, and well-rounded build with good arm length, solid athletic ability, and adequate play strength.

Pole wins as a run blocker using sheer size, length, and leg drive to wall off defenders on down blocks with enough burst to close space and cover up targets on pulls. He struggles to sustain due to clunky footwork and a bad habit of leaning into contact that saps his balance.

In pass protection, Pole is a fluid mover who understands how to play long, keep rushers at his fingertips, and expand his set points to protect the corner. He can also redirect to stay attached and slow down inside moves. While Pole has promise against high-side speed rushers he has an inconsistent anchor due to choppy footwork.

Overall, Pole is new to football with extremely raw areas of his game that are far away from being ready for the NFL, but he has good size with natural mirroring skills in pass protection that give him a chance to earn a backup role at tackle or guard.

MEASUREMENT AND WORKOUT RESULTS

HEIGHT: 6'5"

WEIGHT: 323

HAND: 9⅞"

ARM: 33⅝"

WINGSPAN: 81"

40-YARD DASH: 5.29

3-CONE: 8.03

SHUTTLE: 4.72

VERTICAL: 29"

BROAD: 8'4"

POSITIVES

— Thick, stout and well-rounded build with good arm length.

— Takes fluid pass sets with solid initial and lateral quickness to get to his spot first.

— Has the range to expand his set points and extend/widen high-side rushes past the QB's drop.

— Uses his size and length to cover up targets on down blocks with enough leg drive to seal off lanes.

NEGATIVES

— Unrefined, raw run blocker with choppy footwork and a bad habit of dropping his eyes and leaning into contact.

— Still figuring out how to consistently transition into his anchor leaving him vulnerable to getting jolted backwards against speed to power.

NOTES

— Born July 4, 2001

— Played basketball in high school and did not start playing football until his first year at Chabot Community College in 2021

— Transferred to Washington State prior to the 2023 season after spending his first two years at Chabot

— 21 career starts at left tackle

— Accepted his invite to the 2025 Shrine Bowl

GRADE: 5.7 (Backup/Draftable — 6th/7th Round)

OVERALL RANK: 271

POSITION RANK: OT20

PRO COMPARISON: Travis Glover

Written by B/R NFL Scout Brandon Thorn

The Kansas City Chiefs added Clemson TE Jake Briningstool as an undrafted free agent after the 2025 NFL draft.

Jake Briningstool is a talented pass-catching tight end who is a mismatch for linebackers and safeties in coverage.

At 6'6", Briningstool is well aware of the advantages his height and arm length provide. He wins at the catch point consistently. Briningstool is never truly covered because of his ability to leap over defenders and high-point passes like a power forward catching alley-oops in basketball. He boxes smaller defenders out at the catch point on the quick and in-breaking routes. Briningstool makes plays in multiple ways for Clemson's offense—in the quick screen game, off-of-play action, and on underneath route concepts.

Athletically, Briningstool is a long strider with buildup speed to race up-field for potential explosive plays. He will threaten the defensive seams with his burst/acceleration and catch radius. Linebackers will struggle to combat his height and speed advantage, while safeties will be too small to disrupt him down the field consistently. Briningstool plays with a strong football IQ to recognize defenses pre and post-snap. He thrives working in the middle of the field as a big-body threat who will settle into the weak points of the defensive coverages. He is a well-tempered route runner who does not tip off defenders on his intentions. He plays at his pace and is rarely sped up by the defense—he can operate in a timing and rhythm offense. As a flexed tight end, Briningstool adds a big/power-slot receiving archetype.

His best blocks in the run game come when flexed out into the slot, where he is matched up against smaller nickel defenders. He can work in short motions to crack down on unsuspecting linebackers from an angle. At best, Briningstool is a seal blocker using body positioning to secure leverage.

Run blocking from a traditional in-line alignment is not a strength for Briningstool. He is more effective in operating in space where he can attack angles than physically attempting to move a defensive end upfield. In space after the catch, Briningstool is not an elusive or shifty mover. He has some segmented movements when forced to break down and make a smaller, more athletic defender miss one-on-one in a phone booth. He will win those exchanges with strength. Concentration drops are a slight concern with Briningstool's draft profile. This, combined with a tendency to be a body catcher, can limit his time on the field if it becomes a routine issue.

In closing, Jake Briningstool projects as a skilled pass-catching tight end at the next level. Putting him in the slot and outside as a flex weapon is the best for his development. He offers multiple passing game benefits to an NFL offense. The run blocking will be a storyline to watch early in his career as an NFL player.

MEASUREMENT AND WORKOUT RESULTS

HEIGHT: 6'6"

WEIGHT: 240

40-YARD DASH: N/A

3-CONE: N/A

SHUTTLE: N/A

VERTICAL: N/A

BROAD: N/A

POSITIVES

— Buildup speed to threaten the seams and deep areas in the middle of the field.

— Accuracy-extending receiver with outstanding catch radius and leaping ability.

— Alignment versatility, creating mismatches as a flex tight end

— Red zone threat due to size, ball skills, and leaping ability.

NEGATIVES

— Lean frame, could benefit from adding more muscle mass to handle NFL physicality.

— Despite his traditional height, he will not be viewed as an in-line tight end at the next level.

— Run blocking improvement is needed to have three-down value for NFL offenses.

NOTES

— Born Dec. 9, 2002

— 4-star recruit in 2021 class, per 247Sports

— 2023: Third-Team All-ACC

GRADE: 7.0 (High-Level Backup/Potential Starter — 3rd Round)

OVERALL RANK: 112

POSITION RANK: TE6

PRO COMPARISON: Mike Gesicki

Written by B/R NFL Scout Dame Parson

The Kansas City Chiefs selected Ohio State OT Josh Simmons with the No. 32 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft.

Josh Simmons is a three-year starter who originally spent two years at San Diego State where he started 13 games at right tackle before he transferred to Ohio State prior to the 2023 season. Since arriving in Columbus, Simmons has started 18 games (13 at right tackle, five at left) inside the Buckeyes' 54-48 run-pass split, multiple run scheme offense centered around zone and pin-pull with gap principles mixed in. Simmons has a muscular, athletic and well-rounded, lean build with good length, very good athletic ability and play strength.

Simmons is a physically imposing, loose and powerful run blocker with a sense of urgency in his playing style that leads to establishing first meaningful contact with sticky hands and active feet to regularly stay attached and sustain. He can close space, come to balance and erase targets on pin-pull, crack toss and screens while creating thump on contact on double-team bumps to feed the defensive tackle. Simmons also excels at overtaking and cutting off the backside with very good lateral quickness, and he brings a physical, assertive demeanor to finish blocks.

In pass protection Simmons has a clean, crisp setup in his flat and angled pass sets with good pad level, active hands and easy redirect skills to protect the corner and remain balanced through the top of the QB's drop. He gets into his anchor on time and is dialed in with his left guard on stunts and games with proper timing and spatial awareness.

Overall, there's a question on how much of Simmons's early season dominance is due to a lack of competition or him being that much better, but there's no doubt that his size, movement skills, play strength and technique are on the level of an immediate starting left tackle in the NFL.

MEASUREMENT AND WORKOUT RESULTS

HEIGHT: 6'5"

Weight: 317

HAND: 10⅜"

ARM: 34⅛"

WINGSPAN: 82"

40-YARD DASH: N/A

3-CONE: N/A

SHUTTLE: N/A

VERTICAL: N/A

BROAD: N/A

POSITIVES

— Loose, fluid mover with excellent initial quickness, change of direction, balance and a sense of urgency to his play.

— Regularly beats the rusher to the spot using a flat or 45-degree set before expanding vertically against high-side rushes with plenty of range to protect the corner and remain balanced through the top of the QB's drop.

— Works independent hands showing a circle punch, snatch-trap, inside strike and ability to punch and reset quickly.

— Shows impressive spatial awareness with a strong drag hand against games and stunts to work inside-out and in unison with his left guard to get things sorted.

— Excellent quickness to close space on defenders in the run game before arriving on contact balanced with pop in his hands.

— Very good play strength on angle-drive blocks and rarely is shed clean due to loose hips to redirect when defenders are able to access his edges before running his feet and staying attached.

— Asset on the move on climbs, screens and pulls with the juice to track down second and third-level targets.

NEGATIVES

— Tardy refitting and closing space once engaged in the run game results in getting overextended against shed attempts.

— Through five games has been on the positive side of blowouts and middling competition on the edge.

NOTES

— Born Dec. 26, 2002

— 4-star recruit from the 2021 class, per 247Sports

— Originally committed to San Diego State where he started 13 games at right tackle before transferring to Ohio State prior to the 2023 season

— Suffered a patella knee injury against Oregon in Week five of 2024 that ended his season

— 31 career starts at left (18) and right (13) tackle

GRADE: 8.0 (Year 1 Starter - 1st Round)

OVERALL RANK: 18

POSITION RANK: OT2

PRO COMPARISON: Christian Darrisaw

Written by B/R NFL Scout Brandon Thorn

The Kansas City Chiefs selected Utah State WR Jalen Royals with the No. 133 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft.

Jalen Royals is a dynamic play-making wide receiver with a well-proportioned NFL frame.

Royals is a good and precise route runner with short-area quickness that puts pressure on cornerbacks. He generates separation with suddenness out of his breaks against man coverage. Facing soft press or off coverage, Royals' foot quickness puts defenders in conflict and tests their reaction time. He attacks defenders' airspace before using sudden movements to break past or away from them.

Royals is effective with the ball in space. His functional play strength is showcased after the catch—leading to broken tackles in the open field. Royals' speed and acceleration defeat pursuit angles. He is agile and elusive in space, making upfield defenders miss and generating big plays. Royals' playmaking is versatile; he aligns in multiple positions and can be fed targets in various ways to help the offense. He is a threat on down-the-field routes and manufactured touches, wide receiver, and tunnel screens.

Against tight press alignment Royals gets stuck hand fighting in the contact window. Improving his use of hands will increase his likelihood of clearing physical press corners quickly at the LOS. By not using his hands, corners have easy access to his chest and shoulder pads to slow down/impede forward progress. Royals is inconsistent at reeling in contested catches down the field. Wingspan and arm length concerns surface in 50-50 situations. Royals can be outmuscled at the catch point, limiting his effectiveness playing on the outside against NFL corners.

In conclusion, Jalen Royals is a position-flexible receiver with long speed and dynamism desired in big-play weapons. Royals projects as a starting Z-receiver who can bump into the slot against favorable matchups.

MEASUREMENT AND WORKOUT RESULTS

HEIGHT: 6'0"

WEIGHT: 205

40-YARD DASH: 4.42

3-CONE: N/A

SHUTTLE: N/A

VERTICAL: N/A

BROAD: N/A

POSITIVES

— Dynamic playmaker with the football in his hands, dangerous after the catch.

— Effective and reliable quick passing game threat who finds and settles into voids in the coverage shells.

— Long speed to stress cornerbacks on the vertical plane.

— Short area quickness and suddenness as a route runner.

NEGATIVES

— Expanding his release package to dispose of physical press cornerbacks quickly.

— Suffered a season-ending foot injury in October, cutting his senior season short.

— Protecting his chest and shoulders against handsy defenders at the line of scrimmage.

— Converting downfield contested catch situations by improving body positioning and strength at the catch point.

NOTES

— Born Feb. 18, 2003

— 2023: First-Team All-Mountain West

— Unranked WR recruit in 2022 class, per 247Sports

— Started 21 games for Utah State

GRADE: 7.6 (Potential Impact Player — 2nd Round)

OVERALL RANK: 49

POSITION RANK: WR6

PRO COMPARISON: Jayden Reed

Written by B/R NFL Scout Dame Parson