Jalen Royals has quietly emerged as a potential steal in the 2025 NFL Draft. Despite playing in the Mountain West, his big-play ability, versatility, and elite body control make him an intriguing prospect. His breakout junior season and flashes of dominance before his senior-year injury has put him on the radar as a mid-round receiver with serious upside.
Collegiate Career & Production
Royals' journey to the NFL hasn’t been conventional, but his on-field production speaks for itself. His ability to consistently stretch the field and create after the catch makes him a dangerous offensive weapon at the next level.
Career Stats:
1,914 receiving yards & 21 touchdowns
Junior Year: 1,000+ yards & school-record 15 receiving TDs
Senior Year (Injury-Shortened): Three consecutive 150+ yard, 1 TD performances before injury
Strengths
Elite Playmaker:Â Always a threat to score, with an instinct for finding soft zones in coverage.
Top-End Speed & Acceleration:Â Quickly separates from defenders and is a YAC (yards after catch) machine.
Body Control & Ball Skills:Â Background in basketball shows in his ability to box out defenders and win contested catches.
Versatility:Â Lined up outside and in the slot, showing adaptability in offensive schemes.
Natural Hands Catcher:Â Plucks the ball out of the air, limiting unnecessary body catches.
Proved Himself vs. Top Competition:Â Even against stronger defenses, he still dominated in key games.
Areas for Improvement
Limited Route Tree:Â Primarily used in a slot-heavy role, will need to expand his route running.
Run Blocking Needs Refinement:Â Will need to improve technique and consistency.
Lack of Experience vs. Elite Defenders: Mountain West competition isn’t NFL caliber, but his production remains impressive.
Injury Concerns:Â Senior season was cut short by a foot injury, so durability will be a question mark.
Final Takeaway
Jalen Royals has all the tools to develop into a dangerous weapon at the next level. While he’s still raw in certain areas, his speed, explosiveness, and ball skills make him a high-upside mid-round prospect. If he lands in a pass-heavy system that maximizes his strengths, he could turn into a steal of the draft.
Royals projects as a mid-round pick with the potential to outplay his draft position. His speed, explosiveness, and ability to create separation make him a great fit in vertical and spread offenses.