KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Chiefs start the final day of the NFL Draft with five selections on Saturday with general manager Brett Veach looking to check off more items on his shopping list.
Veach checked off the team’s top four needs during the first two days, picking up offensive tackle Josh Simmons, defensive tackle Omarr Norman-Lott, edge rusher Ashton Gillotte and cornerback Nohl Williams. The Chiefs would also like to add a wide receiver and running back on Saturday, possibly with their first two selections.
The club also holds three seventh-round selections. Veach normally uses seventh-round selections on players the team will be unable to sign as undrafted free agents or as trade resources for an upgraded pick or possibly swapping for future seventh-round selections.
Fourth Round, No. 133 overall: WR Jalen Royals, Utah State
The Chiefs flipped the switch back to offense starting Saturday’s fourth round, selecting the 6-foot, 205-pound Royals. He was a two-year starter at Utah State after tansferring from Georgia Military College. He put up big numbers in those two seasons, playing in 20 games with 126 catches for 1,914 yards and 21 touchdowns.
Royals’ 2024 season was cut short after a right foot injury but he took part in the Senior Bowl and posted a 4.42-second 40-yard time at the NFL Combine. Chiefs West Regional Scout Greg Castillo says Royals is fully healthy after the injury.
“Just from our interactions at the Senior Bowl, he is so coachable,” Castillo said. “He really loves football and he wants to get better. You saw that there his whole path, Georgia Military to Utah State, each and every single year. He improved a ton, and he’ll do that here.”
