He Learned Routes from YouTube—Now Jalen Royals Catches Passes from Patrick Mahomes
OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
Jalen Royals didn’t come from a powerhouse school. He didn’t have a blue checkmark or viral mixtape. What he had was a cracked phone screen, a slow Wi-Fi connection, and hours of YouTube footage.
While other prospects had private trainers and seven-on-seven showcases, Royals had pause, rewind, and replay.
“I’d slow down videos of Stefon Diggs, Odell Beckham Jr., Tyreek Hill,” Royals says. “I’d go outside and try to mimic everything. Footwork. Hip turns. Release off the line.”
That obsession turned into a breakout season at Utah State, where he racked up over 1,200 yards and 12 touchdowns—despite not being on anyone’s radar a year earlier. He didn’t just learn to run routes. He learned to break them.
Scouts still weren’t convinced. They called him raw. Too lean. Fourth-round material.
The Kansas City Chiefs saw something else: hunger. Patrick Mahomes saw timing, separation, and a rare ability to read leverage mid-play.
“He’s one of the smartest route runners I’ve worked with,” Mahomes said during minicamp. “And he’s just getting started.”
Royals was picked 131st overall. A “value pick,” some said. But the Chiefs don’t draft for value—they draft for fit. And Jalen Royals fits into an offense built on improvisation, chemistry, and relentless work.
“He’s got that dog in him,” said Chiefs receivers coach Connor Embree. “You don’t learn that from drills. That comes from wanting it more than anyone.”
Now, Royals spends less time watching Tyreek Hill videos and more time catching passes from Tyreek’s former quarterback. He still rewatches tape—only now, it’s his own.
From Wi-Fi to prime time, from YouTube to the NFL, Jalen Royals didn’t follow a traditional path.
He made his own.
