All the speculation surrounding the New Orleans Saints in Round 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft came to an end on Thursday night. The Saints stayed at the 8th overall pick and used it to select Jordyn Tyson, the talented Arizona State Sun Devils wide receiver. It is only the ninth time in franchise history that the Saints have selected a wideout in the first round, with the last being Chris Olave at 11th overall in 2022.
Tyson is the third highest drafted receiver in New Orleans history, with Wes Chandler going third overall in 1978 and Larry Burton seventh in 1975.Now, Tyson joins fellow first round pick Olave as top targets for Tyler Shough, their second-year quarterback. Tyson was considered one of the top two wideouts in this year's class alongside Carnell Tate of Ohio State, who went fourth to the Tennessee Titans. There is a ton to like about Tyson, as we covered during a previous scouting report on the newest Saint.StrengthsEffective from anywhere in the formationSmooth routes with terrific disguisesSudden route cuts for separationImproved route precision over his last two yearsOutstanding body control to snag off-target throwsNecessary toughness in high traffic areasEnough speed to stretch the fieldWeaknessesInjury/durability concernsNeeds better route discipline in key situationsHas had some drops in high-traffic areasNeeds better physicality on contested ballsAt 6-feet, 2 inches and 203 pounds, Tyson brings good size and length to the position.
He's also got enough speed to make deep plays and elite leaping ability that gives his a very good catch radius. He had 136 receptions for 1,812 yards and 18 touchdowns over his last two years at Arizona State, earning him back-to-back 1st Team All-Big 12 honors, including an outstanding 2024 campaign of 75 catches and 1,101 yards.Injuries are the biggest concern surrounding Tyson. He's missed significant time in three of his four seasons, with different ligament injuries to his knees and some hamstring issues last season.
Beyond that, Jordyn Tyson has all the abilities wanted to be a team's featured weapon. He has enough physicality to handle NFL corners with outstanding hands, good route precision, and a terrific catch radius for his quarterback.Jordyn Tyson is projected to be an immediate starter alongside Olave. Provided he can put his injuries behind him, he's an instant upgrade for the New Orleans receiving corps. His selection filled a major need for the Saints with their first choice.This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: What Saints are getting in Jordyn Tyson: Fit and scouting report