Most of the New Orleans Saints' large rookie class took the field in Metairie for the first time this week, and that meant the first chance to see No. 8 overall pick Jordyn Tyson in action.
He certainly lived up to the hype on Day 1. The best way to phrase it: If you pulled in someone off the street who didn't know a single name on the roster and asked that person to point out the first-round draft pick, the answer would've been obvious.
Tyson's dynamic athleticism was easy to spot from the jump, so much so that it's easy to forget he's also a big target at 6-2 and over 200 pounds. But his ability to display that athleticism was arguably more important. He didn't appear limited in any form or fashion despite hamstring issues dogging him throughout the entire draft process. I even spotted him getting in extra work fielding punts. He did mention he's got a blister on one of his feet that he attributed to the humidity, but that shouldn't slow him down for Saturday.
I was very curious exactly how much we'd see from Tyson during the session. You could've made a reasonable argument for the Saints to take things slow considering the health questions. But he got in as much work as anyone. Hopefully it stays that way -- because it's clear to see the Saints have a very dynamic player on their hands.
Oh, and speaking of hands, Tyson chose to not wear gloves in this practice. He said that's just the way he likes to do it. We'll see if that continues moving forward.
Rookies workin' pic.twitter.com/pF5Z7kuqXk
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) May 8, 2026
Taking attendance
Speaking of health, there were only two players who didn't participate in on-field work and they both play the same position. I didn't spot either of rookie DTs Christen Miller or Zxavian Harris. The UDFA Harris is working back from foot surgery and his absence was expected. Miller's absence was a bit more puzzling. Head coach Kellen Moore said he's working back from a minor injury, but chose not to elaborate on what it was. It doesn't sound like something that will keep the big man out long, but it's worth monitoring as the offseason moves forward.
On the positive end of the spectrum was Lorenzo Styles Jr., who did get in drill work as he works back from offseason shoulder surgery. He didn't participate in 7-on-7 drills and said he's still not 100% but is trending in the right direction.
Styles also told me that he's very comfortable in the slot -- he played in that role often at Ohio State -- and his goal is to compete for that role during training camp. One of the subplots of camp will be who steps into the star role vacated by Alontae Taylor, who departed in free agency for the Titans.
Legit size
It was interesting to see Bryce Lance move around for the first time. The North Dakota State standout is every bit of 6-3 and the length he plays with is intriguing. He reminds me a lot of Marquez Valdes-Scantling, another player with legit size and 4.3 speed.
Lance strikes me as an intense player who's going to put the work in. There was a moment in practice today that he had a ball ding off his hands and he immediately ran back to the line and started doing pushups. That's not a Saints rule -- he did that for himself.
It's important to me not because pushups are a particularly daunting for a professional athlete, but because I think work behind the scenes is going to be as important for Lance as anything. He's an electric athlete at this stage, but he'll have a hard time holding up as a blocker and against physical DBs with his current build. If he can add some bulk in the long-term, he could be a real weapon for this team.
Oscar Delp 🫡#Saints | @GeorgiaFootball https://t.co/Xsn9S21t1W pic.twitter.com/pb718jjrc6
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) May 8, 2026
Blocking Delp
What you'll hear about college tight ends making the transition to the NFL is they'll need to learn to block at a pro level before they can be trusted in a full-fledged role. There are a lot of receiver-first tight ends hitting the pro ranks, but that's only half the job, and I'd argue it's the easier part of the job.
One of the things that makes Oscar Delp so intriguing is he's the exact opposite. The term you'll hear often is "untapped potential." Delp had only 70 catches total in four years with the Bulldogs. They asked him to be a blocker and an in-line player early and often, and he did it well. That ability is what will make it a lot easier for him to get on the field in his rookie season, even with a pair of established TEs ahead of him in Juwan Johnson and Noah Fant.
“I think Georgia put me in a very successful position, developing me as a true tight end, all-around guy," Delp told me. "I think I’m just as good at receiving as anyone else, but I definitely think I have an edge on a lot of dudes in this class.”
We'll have to wait until full-contact practices to see him show off that ability, but I'm eager to see it.
LAGNIAPPE
Jeremiah Wright very much looks the part. He got reps at multiple positions on Friday, including tackle. I expect him to settle in at guard eventually, and it'll be interesting to see what side of the line he lands on. He also strikes me as a player who could be very effective in a jumbo TE role. ... Speaking of looking the part, I'm a big fan of Alan Herron. Fun fact: He came up in Jamaica playing multiple sports, with baseball being his No. 2 before he focused solely on football. He's only been playing football for 5 years, so he's raw but has a lot of potential. He's comfortable playing on both sides of the line, too, which will be important for him to stick around as the swing guy. ... It's easy to forget about Damien Alford because he was signed early in the offseason, but he's another member of this rookie WR class. The dude is legit big and reminds me a lot of early-career Juwan Johnson. I wouldn't be surprised to see him transition to TE at some point in the future, but he moves well and has an intriguing skillset. It's easy to understand why the Saints brought him in.
