2 Chiefs Rookies Quickly Climbing the Depth Chart at Training Camp

We’ve only just started the Kansas City Chiefs’ training camp, and two rookies are already climbing the depth chart in the offensive passing game, receiving reps with Patrick Mahomes and the first-team unit.

A-to-Z Sports Kansas City reporter Charles Goldman highlighted both during an article on July 23, headlining: “Rookies Jake Briningstool & Jalen Royals make several big plays.”

“Quality depth at pass catcher is not something the Chiefs have had over the past few years,” Goldman wrote on Wednesday. “However, that could be changing thanks to some great scouting by GM Brett Veach and his staff. During Wednesday’s practice, Briningstool and Royals took several reps with the first-team offense.”

“Briningstool is an undrafted free agent who possesses tremendous athletic upside,” the KC reporter continued. “The Chiefs’ coaching staff showed him a vote of confidence by giving him first-team reps, and he made the most of them as he reeled in multiple catches, including this touchdown from QB Patrick Mahomes.”

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As for Royals, Goldman noted that he “also shined with the first-team offense” on July 23, “catching two touchdown passes from Mahomes.”

“Royals also had several other receptions on the day,” Goldman went on to reveal, and that trend continued on Thursday, July 24.

Alongside rookie running back Brashard Smith, Royals received “install reps” with the first-team offense on Thursday to gain a better understanding of the playbook, per KSHB 41’s Nick Jacobs.

Then, later on, Jacobs reported that Royals made “an impressive one-handed grab with tight coverage off the blitz on the sitdown [route].”

There was less overt Briningstool news on July 24, but both rookies are clear names to watch throughout the summer.

Chiefs Rookie WR Jalen Royals Called ‘Instant Red Zone Threat’ & Rashee Rice Insurance

So, where does Royals fit into the immediate Kansas City offense?

“Rashee Rice, Hollywood Brown, and Xavier Worthy top K.C.’s WR depth chart, but it’s wide open beyond that,” Goldman detailed on July 23.

Adding: “Royals could be an instant red zone threat, as he proved today. A likely suspension for Rice at some point during the regular season will also open up opportunities for Royals.”

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When news of Rice’s legal update first broke, the more savvy members of Chiefs Kingdom didn’t talk about making a move to acquire a veteran; they talked about getting Royals developed as quickly as possible this summer, and that’s what KC appears to be doing.

Nicknamed “Rashee Rice light,” the coaching staff has big plans for the rookie who has similar yards after catch ability. And it’s starting to show at Chiefs training camp.

Chiefs Undrafted Rookie Jake Briningstool Is Living Up to Training Camp Darling Prediction

Briningstool was a popular pick for predicted training camp darling after a strong OTAs. As Goldman noted on Wednesday, nothing is really standing in the way of the undrafted prospect climbing as high as No. 3 on the tight end depth chart.

“Travis Kelce and Noah Gray are firmly entrenched as the top two TEs on the roster, but Briningstool could slide in behind them at No. 3,” the KC reporter wrote. “He is competing with veteran Robert Tonyan and Jared Wiley, but it appears that Briningstool has the jump on them early on.”

Being that he was not drafted, Briningstool certainly has a tougher road to a roster spot than Royals, but he’s already impressed enough to win over some within Chiefs Kingdom.

Arrowhead Pride beat reporter Pete Sweeney predicted that Briningstool would make the initial 53 during his first roster projection of the year on July 22.

Reasoning: “Some analysts projected Clemson’s Jake Briningstool to go late in the draft on Day 3 — and when he didn’t, the Chiefs scooped him up as an undrafted free agent. Reid only kept three tight ends on the initial roster in 2022 and 2023 but returned to four in 2024. Give me Briningstool over veteran Robert Tonyan, whose salary would become fully guaranteed if he is on the 53 for Week 1.”