Chiefs Rookie Makes $1.87M Receiver Expendable

Kansas City, MO – The Kansas City Chiefs are no strangers to bold roster moves, and as training camp looms for the 2025 season, a shakeup in their crowded wide receiver room is brewing. Rookie Jalen Royals, a fourth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, has turned heads at OTAs, potentially rendering veteran Skyy Moore—a $1.87 million cap hit in 2025—expendable.

Moore, a second-round pick in 2022, was once seen as a key piece for Patrick Mahomes’ offense. However, his three-year stat line of 43 receptions for 494 yards and one touchdown has fallen short of expectations. In 2024, Moore was overshadowed by first-round rookie Xavier Worthy, who racked up 59 catches for 638 yards and nine scores. Now, Royals, a dynamic playmaker from Utah State with 4.39 speed, is pushing Moore further down the depth chart. According to Arrowhead Pride, Royals’ crisp route-running and big-play ability have him vying for snaps alongside Worthy, Rashee Rice, and Marquise Brown.

Moore’s struggles are stark. His 2024 season was marred by a season-ending injury, limiting him to 22 catches for 260 yards. Despite adding muscle this offseason, as noted by Chiefs Wire, Moore failed to stand out at minicamp, where Royals and veterans like JuJu Smith-Schuster dominated reps. Kansas City Star reports Moore is on the roster bubble, competing with Nikko Remigio and Tyquan Thornton for one of the final receiver spots.

The Chiefs’ receiver room is stacked, with Rice, Brown, Worthy, and Smith-Schuster locked in, leaving Moore fighting for scraps. His $1.87 million cap hit, per Spotrac, is modest, but cutting or trading him could save $1.3 million, crucial as Kansas City eyes a Trey Smith extension. Moore’s trade value—a likely sixth- or seventh-round pick—makes him a prime candidate to be moved before the August 26 roster cuts, especially with teams like the Rams or Panthers needing young receivers.

Royals’ emergence, paired with Moore’s inability to secure a consistent role, paints a clear picture: the Chiefs’ investment in new talent has made the 25-year-old expendable. As Brett Veach reshapes the roster for another Super Bowl run, Moore’s days in Kansas City may be numbered. For more Chiefs updates, follow ESPN.com.