New Orleans Saints select Jordyn Tyson: 7 things to know about the WR

Just three FBS receivers have matched Tyson's production

How's this for productive? Tyson won All-Big 12 first team recognition in both 2024 and 2025 by catching 136 passes for 1,812 yards and 18 touchdowns -- the only other FBS players to hit those marks were Jeremiah Smith (Ohio State) and Skyler Bell (UConn). When he's healthy, he's an extremely tough out for whichever defensive back is lined up against him. He's drawn comparisons to both Stefon Diggs and Odell Beckham Jr. as a compactly built, high-volume weapon at 6-foot-2 and 203 pounds.

Staying healthy is a concern the Saints are comfortable with

Tyson missed multiple games in each of his four years at the college level due to injuries. That bad knee injury cost him three games in 2022 and the entire 2023 season. A collarbone issue sidelined him for the final two games in 2024. And then he dealt with a hamstring in 2025, initially playing through it before he was shut down for three games. All told, Tyson has missed 34% of his teams' games because of injury. The good news is that those aren't recurring issues. The Saints managed hamstring issues with Marshon Lattimore and Tyler Shough didn't have any problems after breaking his own collarbone in college. That knee is a long time behind Tyson.

Only a three-star recruit, Tyson has forced teams to see him

Tyson was slept on in his high school recruiting class; he was ranked 131st nationally at wide receiver and was No. 132 in the state of Texas. His first scholarship offers came from New Mexico, Colorado State, and Tulsa before he received his only Power 5 offer from Colorado. Oklahoma and Arizona State were his biggest draws in the transfer portal, and the rest is history. Tyson fought hard to catch the spotlight.

Tyson's brother is a talented NBA player in his own right

Jaylon Tyson is just 20 months older than Jordyn, and at the same time the Saints were calling his name, the elder brother was fighting to help his Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA playoffs against the Toronto Raptors. The Cavs selected the older Tyson with the 20th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft after he played college basketball at Texas, Texas Tech, and California.

Look for Tyson to win a lot of 50/50 balls

Tyson's quarterbacks trusted him in contested situations, and he proved why by winning more of those battles than he lost (22 of 42) and making plays with the ball in his hands. He converted a first down on 105 of his 159 career receptions and averaged more than four yards after the catch per reception, too. He isn't going to go streaking 60 yards downfield like Rashid Shaheed after a short catch, but Tyson does bring physicality to compliment Chris Olave's finesse.

This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: 2026 NFL Draft: 7 things to know about Saints WR Jordyn Tyson