30 FAs in 30 Days: Eddie Royal

[Mr_Tomahawk]

30 FAs in 30 Days: Eddie Royal

Today's featured player in Denver Broncos slot receiver Eddie Royal

NAME: Eddie Royal
POSITION: Wide Receiver (slot)

HEIGHT/WEIGHT: 5-10, 185

COLLEGE: Virginia Tech

GP/GS: 57/45

AGE/EXPEREINCE: 25/4 seasons

BACKGROUND: Broncos slot receiver Eddie Royal did not benefit from Tebow-Mania, catching a career-low 19 passes for just 155 yards in 2012. It was quite a disappointment after hauling in 187 receptions over his first three NFL seasons.

Royal has turned in a mixture of good, average and poor seasons during his four years in Denver. Let’s start with the good.

After arriving in Denver as a second round draft pick, Royal burst onto the scene his rookie season with 91 catches for 980 yards with five touchdowns in 2008. He was an excellent compliment to All-Pro receiver Brandon Marshall and brought electricity to Denver’s return game as well.

Chiefs fans may recall Royal’s nine-catch, 104-yard performance at Arrowhead Stadium in September of 2008. Royal saw a ton of targets as a rookie because of a battered cast of Broncos running backs. His early success likely set unrealistic expectations heading into his second season.

Year two saw Royal take a dip with 37 catches for 345 yards. His totals decreased by two-thirds from his rookie campaign as he often played outside receiver opposite Marshall. However, as a return man, Royal was still top-notch.

Royal’s offensive productivity jumped back up in 2010 when he was used out of the slot and finished third on the team with 59 catches for 627 yards. His yards-per-catch total mirrored that of his rookie year despite fewer targets.

Of course, Royal’s 2011 campaign wasn’t what he envisioned heading into free agency. He battled an early-season groin injury that cost him a month and never was able to get going.

In addition to posting career-low receiving totals last season, Royal was less active in the return game as well.

AVAILABILITY: According to the Denver Post, re-signing Royal with not be a priority for the Broncos this off-season. Bill Williamson of ESPN.com suggests that Royal might re-unite with former Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan in Washington.

Regardless of where he signs, most seem to think Royal will be wearing a different uniform in 2012.

COACHING CONNECTIONS: Besides being a familiar AFC West face, there are no direct ties to Royal and the Chiefs coaching staff.

Royal is, however, a good friend of Chiefs cornerback Brandon Flowers. The two players were college teammates at Virginia Tech.

WHY HE FITS: As long as the Chiefs retain unrestricted free agent Dwayne Bowe, wide receiver won’t be a top-tier need for the Chiefs this off-season. But even with a frontline of Bowe, Steve Breaston and Jonathan Baldwin back in tow, the Chiefs still have a need to create depth at the position.

Kansas City lacked a consistent slot receiver last season with Dexter McCluster moving to running back and pre-season injures to Baldwin and tight end Tony Moeaki thinning the club’s interior options. Breaston played primarily on the outside with Baldwin seeing time in slot upon when once healthy.

A slot receiver like Royal could be a good fit for a team looking to add reliable depth to its receiving core. He’d also add another proven return man to the roster with McCluster and cornerback Javier Arenas potentially seeing an increased workload.