The New Orleans Saints were in the market for an explosive weapon on offense, and that's exactly what they landed at No. 8 overall with Arizona State's Jordyn Tyson.
Hear WWL Radio's exclusive interview with Jordyn Tyson in the player above. Can't see the embed? Click here.
Brought to you by TRANESOUTH: It's hard to stop a Tranewww.audacy.com“It feels great," Tyson said. "Shoot, I never stopped working, so I was cool with it. Never stopped working out, never got out of shape. ... I’m ready to hit the ground running right now.”
Tyson caught 61 passes for 711 yards and eight touchdowns for the Sun Devils in 2025 and was regarded by many as the top WR talent in the draft. Tyson's injury history was the biggest talking point. His career started at Colorado but ended quickly after a major knee injury that cost him the entire 2023 season. Tyson suffered a season-ending collarbone injury in 2024 and battled a nagging hamstring injury this past season that kept him from participating in the NFL combine and Arizona State's pro day. Tyson was able to get a workout in earlier this month in front of NFL teams, a workout that the Saints clearly came away from with positive reviews.
"I'm going to give myself the best opportunity to stay on the field and be as healthy as possible," Tyson said when asked about the health questions, noting that he believes him hamstring issue was due to his hips being too tight. He says he’s been working diligently this offseason to correct.
Tyson added further perfecting his day-to-day process will be a key in staying healthy, and he credits former NFL star and current Arizona State WRs coach Hines Ward for helping to pain the picture of what that process has to look like day in and day out.
“He was everything, he played 14 years, been there, done that, basically everything he learned over his time he just instilled it all in me so I don’t make the same mistakes he made," Tyson told WWL. "He’s been there for me, he’s been everything I needed.”
Tyson comes from a family of elite athletes. His brother, Jaylon, was actively playing in a playoff game for the Cleveland Cavaliers at the moment Jordyn was drafted. Tyson's quarterback for his final college season was Sam Leavitt, who has since transferred to LSU and is expected to start for the Tigers this season.
No. 8 is the highest the Saints have drafted a WR since Wes Chandler in 1978, who was picked at No. 3 overall out of Florida. Tyson was the second WR off the board after Carnell Tate, who went at No. 4 to the Titans.
Tyson's addition provides another explosive option for Tyler Shough heading into Year 2, and he'll be expected to form a dynamic tandem with Chris Olave, who is entering the final year of his rookie deal. Olave finished the 2025 season with 100 catches for 1,163 yards and 9 TDs, all career highs, and is expected to land a major extension this offseason.
Nola gets their guy ‼️
— ESPN (@espn) April 24, 2026
Jordyn Tyson is heading to the New Orleans Saints 🔥 pic.twitter.com/QMYm3cv8Sh
Saints head coach Kellen Moore noted the versatility of both players as a major selling point in building the tandem.
“I think the big thing for all of our receivers and really I think you can look at that whole group collectively is their versatility, their ability to line up in multiple positions, line up in a lot of spots," Moore said. "You watch Jordyn’s career, he’s lined up in a number of places and so certainly, you know, him and Chris and [Devaughn Vele] and all the other guys, their versatility is a positive for us. We’re not going to be stuck in guys playing one position, certainly we’ll have home bases for all those guys but they’ll be able to line up wherever they need to.”
Here's how the first 7 picks landed ahead of the Saints:
1. Raiders: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
2. Jets: David Bailey, DE, Texas Tech
3. Cardinals: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
4. Titans: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
5. Giants: Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State
6. Chiefs (via Browns): Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
7. Commanders: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
Tyson was visibly emotional when he arrived on stage to be greeted by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and he explained why.
“It’s just where I came from. I wasn’t supposed to be here, I was 5-4 my sophomore year, I had no work ethic until my junior year. I’m not supposed to be here," Tyson said. "Without God blessing me with an amazing family and an amazing support system … it’s all credit to God and just what he did with my life and all the people around me.”
The Saints went into the day with eight total picks and with some intriguing options, particularly at wide receiver, edge rusher and safety. Saints GM Mickey Loomis told WWL Radio that in the hours before the draft the calls for trades were "unusually quiet," noting that they had received in the range of three calls when in other years it'd be closer to 15. The only trade ahead of the Saints in the first round was the Chiefs, who moved up from No. 9 to No. 6 to select LSU's Mansoor Delane.
New Orleans is coming off a 6-11 season and a 5th straight year of landing outside the postseason, but with renewed optimism after finishing the year with wins in four of the final five games behind Shough, who took over at quarterback midseason.
The Saints have seven picks remaining, barring trades, the next coming at No. 42 overall.
