Saints Sign First-Round WR Jordyn Tyson
The Saints announced deals with seven draft picks, including first-round wide receiver Jordyn Tyson. As the eighth overall pick, Tyson’s fully guaranteed contract is worth approximately $32.49MM over four years.
Tyson was the second receiver taken in the draft, falling behind Carnell Tate (Titans, No. 4), after an excellent couple of seasons at Arizona State. The 6-foot-2, 203-pounder combined for 136 receptions, 1,812 yards and 18 touchdowns over 21 games from 2024-25. However, injuries were a problem throughout Tyson’s time in college, which likely dinged his draft stock to some extent.
Tyson began his college career in 2022 at Colorado, where he averaged a robust 21.4 yards per catch on 22 receptions and totaled four TDs in nine games. His freshman year ended with a torn ACL, MCL and PCL. Tyson, who then transferred to Arizona State, missed almost all of 2023 while recovering from his knee injury. He went on to suffer a broken collarbone late in 2024, and hamstring issues nagged him last year.
Tyson’s hamstring continued bothering him during the pre-draft process, which prevented him from working out at the Combine or participating in ASU’s pro day. He recovered in time to hold a workout for NFL teams on April 17. The Saints clearly came away impressed, and they will turn to Tyson as their top complement to No. 1 receiver Chris Olave in 2026.
Tyson was the first of four pass catchers the offense-needy Saints drafted this year. They spent a third-rounder on former Georgia tight end Oscar Delp and later selected wideouts Bryce Lance (fourth round, North Dakota State) and Barion Brown (sixth round, LSU). The team announced agreements with Delp, Lance and Brown on Friday. The Saints also signed guard Jeremiah Wright (fourth round, Auburn), safety Lorenzo Styles Jr. (fifth round, Ohio State) and cornerback TJ Hall (seventh round, Iowa). Second-round defensive tackle Christen Miller is now the lone unsigned member of their eight-player draft class.
Browns Considered Jordyn Tyson, Francis Mauigoa In Round 1; Latest On Jerry Jeudy
Heavily rumored to be considering a trade-down move from No. 6, the Browns found a taker and flipped the pick to the Chiefs in exchange for third- and fifth-rounders. The Chiefs took LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane, leaving the Browns with one of their preferred prospects on offense at No. 9.
GM Andrew Berry had already asked Chiefs counterpart Brett Veach if he would use No. 6 on offense or defense; after hearing the Kansas City front office boss’ answer, Berry would be assured of one of the team’s three preferred offensive prospects being available at 9.
[RELATED: Deshaun Watson Holds Early Lead For Browns’ QB Job]
The Browns felt comfortable with that three-spot slide due to interest in Jordyn Tyson, Spencer Fano and Francis Mauigoa, as detailed by ESPN’s The Pick Is In special (h/t ESPN.com’s Daniel Oyefusi). While it is unclear if the Browns would have taken Tyson above Fano at 9, the Saints took the play out of their hands by grabbing the Arizona State wide receiver at 8.
Browns-Tyson rumors did not circulate heavily before draft weekend, as the most recent tie came from an early-March “30” visit. The Browns kept their Tyson interest under wraps, though we did hear some teams preferred his upside to Carnell Tate‘s. The Titans were not among that group, as they chose Tate fourth overall. The Browns addressed receiver with their second and third draft choices, taking Texas A&M’s KC Concepcion and Washington’s Denzel Boston at Nos. 24 and 39.
Cleveland was closely tied to wanting a tackle in Round 1, and the team came away with Fano. The team chose Fano over Mauigoa, whom the Giants drafted one spot later. Fano came as a cleaner prospect, with Mauigoa’s disk issue affecting his draft stock.
The Browns declined two Cowboys offers for No. 9, with Dallas initially proposing Nos. 12 and 20 for Nos. 9 and 24. Berry labeled that first offer light, before Cowboys COO Stephen Jones tacked on a fifth-rounder (h/t Oyefusi) to the proposal. The Browns stayed at 9 and drafted Fano, who is ticketed to be the team’s left tackle. We heard earlier the Browns received calls from NFC teams before Tyson went off the board and that Cleveland declined another offer for 9. It is now known the Cowboys made the latter proposal.
The Browns, who gave Fano LT challenger Dawand Jones a pay cut in exchange for upfront guarantees, may have been leery of dropping below the Giants in the draft. Jones said during the ESPN special the Browns were likely worried about the Giants with regards to a tackle.
The Dolphins loomed at No. 11, inviting a scenario in which both the Browns’ top tackle options were off the board by the time No. 12 came around. Miami moved down one spot with Dallas, which may have been trying to outflank New York for Caleb Downs — a player frequently linked to Big Blue pre-draft — with its offer for No. 9. But the Cowboys ended up with the Ohio State safety at No. 11. The Dolphins also chose a tackle — Alabama’s Kadyn Proctor — after trading down.
As Tyson joins Chris Olave in New Orleans, the Browns rounded out their receiver cadre with Concepcion and Boston. They will accompany Jerry Jeudy, whom Berry said (via Oyefusi) the team will not be impacted by the team’s first- and second-round wideout choices. Jeudy’s three-year, $52.5MM extension runs through the 2027 season.
“He’s our bell cow,” Berry said of Jeudy. “I think with receiver rooms you can have, maybe a ball-dominant player or you can essentially build a basketball team with different skillsets. We prefer the second approach. Don’t get me wrong, I’ll take Calvin Johnson if he’s out there. But we feel like we have a nice, well-rounded room with speed, RAC, contested catch ability, separation. So, we’re really pleased with the youth and talent in that group.”
Boston’s size-oriented outside skillset will complement smaller wideouts like Jeudy and Concepcion. Jeudy has plenty of slot experience as well. While the former Broncos first-rounder is heading into his seventh NFL season, he just turned 27. More prime years should remain, though the Alabama product is coming off a down 2025.
After a Pro Bowl 2024 season that included a belated breakout — 90 catches, 1,229 yards, four touchdowns — Jeudy slumped last season (50/602/2 in 17 games). Drops were an issue for the upper-crust route runner, but the Browns are planning to give him another chance.
It would cost the Browns more than $22MM to trade Jeudy this year. While they could prorate that over two years by waiting until after June 1, Cleveland’s frequently used contract structure — where base salaries are dropped to the minimum in bonus-flooded accords — would make a trade punitive in the grand scheme. The Browns already paid Jeudy a $6MM option bonus for 2026. The team will have an easier time moving off the deal in 2027, but it appears Deshaun Watson (or one of Cleveland’s second-year arms) will have Jeudy to target alongside Concepcion and Boston.
The topic of a second Jeudy trade could resurface at the trade deadline — after it briefly came up last fall — as his low base salary and nonguaranteed 2027 compensation would make him an attractive chip. But the Browns will continue their offseason program with Jeudy as the veteran presence alongside the SEC and Big Ten WR prospects.
Saints Draft WR Jordyn Tyson At No. 8
Jordyn Tyson was not the first wideout taken on Thursday, but he has still turned out to be a top-10 selection. The Arizona State product has been taken eighth overall by the Saints.
The Saints were reportedly candidates to move up in the draft for an edge defender, but general manager Mickey Loomis stayed put and addressed another obvious weakness. New Orleans struck gold on receiver Chris Olave, the No. 11 pick in 2022, but had no other real threats at the position before drafting Tyson. Devaughn Vele performed well at the end of last year, but he finished with just 25 catches and 393 yards in 13 games. Other than Olave and Vele, no returning Saints wideout even hit the 20-catch mark last season.
Despite last season’s struggles, the Saints did not pick up any noteworthy receivers in the first couple of months of the offseason. That left the draft as their best bet to upgrade and bring in another weapon for second-year quarterback Tyler Shough. Carnell Tate became the first receiver off the board when the Titans chose him fourth overall, but Tyson may have the most upside of any wideout in this class. Durability is the main concern regarding Tyson, who had immense difficulty staying healthy during his four years in college.
The 6-foot-2, 203-pound Tyson began his college career in 2022 at Colorado. He averaged a superb 21.4 yards per catch on 22 receptions and scored four touchdowns in nine games, but his freshman year ended with a torn ACL, MCL and PCL. Tyson transferred to Arizona State the next year, though he played just three games and went without a catch. His production exploded over 12 games in 2024, when he piled up 75 receptions for 1,101 yards and 10 scores. However, another injury – a broken collarbone – ended his season.
Tyson concluded his time at ASU with a second straight first-team All-Big 12 effort in 2025, during which he caught 61 balls for 711 yards and eight TDs. His drop rate fell from 8.5% to a microscopic 1.6% in a one-year span. While Tyson’s production was outstanding, hamstring issues limited him to nine games.
Tyson’s hamstring remained problematic during the pre-draft process. The 21-year-old did not work out at the Combine or participate in ASU’s pro day, but he recovered in time to hold a workout for interested teams on April 17. It went well for Tyson, who impressed in front of 20-plus clubs, including the Saints.
Latest On Giants’ First-Round Plans
The Giants adding the No. 10 overall pick in the Dexter Lawrence trade has complicated the first round for the NFC East franchise. A lot is in play as John Harbaugh finalizes preparations for his first New York draft.
Tied to the likes of Jeremiyah Love, Sonny Styles, Caleb Downs, Jordyn Tyson and also potentially bolstering their O-line, the Giants have several directions they can now go holding two top-10 choices. The Giants are believed to want to help Jaxson Dart in this year’s first round, per ESPN.com’s Matt Miller, and Love links have piled up. But it is quite possible the Notre Dame running back is off the board by No. 5.
How the board falls at 5 may dictate what the Giants do at 10, with CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones expecting Big Blue to draft a player on each side of the ball by night’s end. It would be interesting to see the Giants take Love at 5 and perhaps Tyson or Carnell Tate at 10, but if the team does draft either Love or Tyson at 5, finding a defender at 10 might be difficult.
It is quite possible Styles and Downs will be off the board by No. 10, perhaps ramping up the pressure on New York — presuming it wants at least one of the Ohio State defenders — to go defense then offense. Downs appears more likely than Styles to be available at 10, and before the Bengals and Giants made the above-referenced trade, Ely Allen’s PFR mock draft had the safety falling to Cincinnati in that spot. But it is very possible both go off the board in the top nine, and in a scenario where the Giants end up with Love or Tyson at 5, they might need to look closely at their O-line options due to Styles and Downs potentially being spoken for by 10.
Love may be too difficult to pass on at 5, but Miller adds the Giants do not expect him to be there by then. That said, Miller notes the team would pick the former Fighting Irish star if he is available. That simplifies this process to a degree, but with Love links to the Cardinals and Titans, it is obviously possible the Giants will need to turn to their second choice (at least) at 5.
Tyson may be part of that equation, as the Arizona State wideout has vaulted up the board — with his recent workout showing the skillset that has tantalized teams amid an injury-plagued career. Giants coaches are “very high on” Tyson, Miller colleague Jeremy Fowler adds. No team did more work on Tyson than the Giants, per Miller.
Joe Schoen was at the prospect’s modified pro day in Tempe, Ariz., and that included a dinner with the fast-rising pass catcher. If the Giants do not believe Tyson will be available at 10, adding him early and taking their chances with one of the Ohio State defenders or an O-lineman may be the play (in the event Love is gone by 5).
The team has also been connected to Tate, and Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer mocks the ex-Buckeyes receiver to New York at No. 5. The team likes both players, per Breer, but Tate would give New York a much safer prospect — albeit one with less upside — in this premium draft slot.
Tyson will be a higher-variance prospect, while Tate — Ohio State’s WR2 behind Jeremiah Smith over the past two years — would slot in alongside Malik Nabers. The latter’s recent ACL tear could impact the Giants on Tyson, but if the NFC East team is truly sold on the Arizona State product’s upside, passing for a safer option may not go over too well should Tyson hit elsewhere.
Cowboys Will Not Negotiate Extension With George Pickens
10:55pm: The Cowboys have until July 15 to work out a multiyear deal with Pickens, but it does not appear that will happen. “We’ve made a decision that we’re going to have George Pickens (play under the franchise tag),” executive vice president Stephen Jones said Wednesday (via Jon Machota of The Athletic). “There won’t be negotiations on a long-term deal.”
Barring a 180 from the Cowboys, Pickens is in line to become the first NFLer to play under the tag since Bengals receiver Tee Higgins did so in 2024. Pickens has yet to sign his franchise tender, though, and it is unclear if he will take part in their offseason program (per Machota). Pickens will be the fifth Cowboy to play on the tag since 2018, as DeMarcus Lawrence (2018), Dak Prescott (2020), Dalton Schultz (2022) and Tony Pollard preceded the wide receiver here.
11:24am: The Cowboys have made little progress on a long-term deal with wide receiver George Pickens, who is currently tied to a $27.3MM salary cap for the 2026 season.
“They’re nowhere with George Pickens right now,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter said on Get Up ESPN on Wednesday. “They are not really talking about an extension. They’re not close to an extension. They are not getting a deal done at this point in time.”
Pickens, 25, arrived in Dallas last offseason via a trade with the Steelers. He put up career-highs of 93 catches, 1,429 receiving yards, and nine touchdowns, leading the Cowboys and ranking among the league’s top-10 receivers in each category.
With the wide receiver market eclipsing $40MM, Pickens’ production set up an inevitable franchise tag. The Cowboys have repeatedly indicated they would like to work out a long-term deal, but the four-year veteran may have an aggressive ask. Dallas could also be comfortable with the price of his franchise tag and plan to see if Pickens can recreate his production. That would set up an even more expensive franchise tag and/or multiyear extension in 2027, though any regression could perhaps lead to a cheaper deal. That still feels unlikely given Pickens’ ascendance and the ever-rising price of premium receiver talent, but it is certainly possible.
The Cowboys may also consider selecting a top wideout in this weekend’s draft to give themselves multiple options for their receiver room in the short- and long-term.
“That situation is just sitting out there,” Schefter adds. “And the Cowboys are said to really like [Arizona State wide receiver] Jordyn Tyson.”
Tyson’s stock has risen significantly since his workout in front of several teams, who are now more confident about his medical history. The Cowboys would probably have to use their first first-round pick (No. 12 overall) to get him, if he even falls that far. They have been linked to a trade into the top 10, but those reports have generally indicated that Dallas would make such a move for an elite defender, not an offensive skill player.
Jets Have ‘Settled On’ Arvell Reese At No. 2? Latest On 16th Pick
With the Raiders a lock to take Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza first overall on Thursday, the real draft drama will begin when the Jets are on the clock at No. 2. The Jets are expected to select Texas Tech edge defender David Bailey or Ohio State linebacker/edge Arvell Reese. On the eve of the draft, there is a belief the team has “settled on Reese,” Dan Graziano of ESPN hears.
Jets reports centering on Bailey and Reese have gone back and forth in recent weeks. Reese was the favorite to go to the Jets as of April 5, but Bailey took the lead last week. It has since swung back to Reese after the Jets canceled a scheduled “30” visit with Bailey.
Asked about the Jets on Wednesday, Bailey told reporters (via Jets Videos): “It’s been good, man. They canceled my “30” visit, so I wasn’t able to get around the facility, but I had a great interaction with them at the combine and FaceTime calls.”
Bailey notched 14.5 sacks over three years at Stanford, but he matched that total during his lone season at Texas Tech in 2025. While he is considered a safer bet than Reese from a pass-rushing standpoint, the latter’s upside and versatility may be too much for the Jets to ignore. As PFR’s Sam Robinson noted, the Jaguars were in a similar situation heading into the 2022 draft. Looking for an impact pass rusher, the Jaguars went with the upside play (Travon Walker) over someone who was more productive in college (Aidan Hutchinson). Walker has turned into a good pro, but Hutchinson has been the better of the two.
In assessing Reese, a defensive coordinator told James Palmer of Bleacher Report: “It’s tough. I think his best spot is edge rusher. But he is fully athletically capable of playing inside LB. I think his disposition is more edge rusher when you talk to him. You just get that feel from him. If he had a gun to his head he’d probably say that as well. With his athletic tools and how his brain works he could be directly impactful there at edge.”
The Jets’ first-round work will continue even after they decide on Reese or Bailey. They also own the 16th overall pick, but there is “a real chance” they will trade out of that slot, Tony Pauline of Essentially Sports reports. A team in need of an offensive lineman could jump the Lions at 17 to acquire the Jets’ selection, per Pauline, who points to Pittsburgh as a possibility. For now, the Steelers are in line to pick 21st.
Depending on how aggressive the Jets are in targeting a receiver with their second pick, trading up from 16 may also be under consideration. The Jets reportedly have first-round grades on three wideouts: Carnell Tate (Ohio State), Jordyn Tyson (Arizona State) and Denzel Boston (Washington). However, they “don’t seem as high” on Tate as they are on Tyson, according to Rich Cimini of ESPN. While Tyson has a concerning injury history, he might have the most upside of any receiver in this class. Unless the Jets move up, Tyson may be out of reach.
Giants Draft Latest: Styles, Downs, Love, Ioane, Fano, Tyson, Trade
For the second time in four years, the Giants hold two top-10 picks in a draft. Joe Schoen‘s first draft did not maximize the value at Nos. 5 and 7, where Kayvon Thibodeaux and Evan Neal arrived. If the GM is to save his job, he will need to serve as a meaningful contributor while a John Harbaugh-fronted regime navigates the Nos. 5 and 10 overall selections.
The Giants obtained No. 10 from the Bengals for Dexter Lawrence. While that haul surprised some Giants decisionmakers, the team bungling the Neal pick reminds how having such meaningful draft real estate can backfire. Several possibilities certainly exist for Big Blue near the top of this draft.
A path where the Giants grab Sonny Styles at No. 5 and emerge from No. 10 with another offensive line starter should be considered in play, according to SportsBoom.com’s Jason La Canfora. A GM informed La Canfora that Styles will not be available by No. 10, so if Harbaugh wants a Roquan Smith-type linebacking anchor, the Giants would need to pull the trigger at 5.
Likely set to be the highest ILB drafted since the Buccaneers chose Devin White fifth overall in 2019, Styles has been connected to the Titans at No. 4. With the Jets down to Arvell Reese and David Bailey and the Cardinals not tied to Styles much, it would seemingly be down to Tennessee passing to greenlight a Giants pick.
The Giants have two locked-in tackle starters, in Andrew Thomas and Jermaine Eluemunor, but their guard posts do not feature a long-term piece. Although Jon Runyan Jr. came up as a cut candidate months ago, he remains on the roster. The former Packer is entering the final season of a three-year, $30MM contract and may not be a roster lock, and the team signed ex-Raven (one of many brought in under Harbaugh) Daniel Faalele to go with Lucas Patrick. Those players could be swing options, however, and La Canfora hears Harbaugh “loves” Penn State guard Vega Ioane.
Ioane has been linked to Baltimore at No. 14, where Ely Allen’s PFR mock draft sent him. Prior to the Lawrence trade, Ely mocked Francis Mauigoa to New York at No. 5. The Giants have an interesting opportunity to add a quality O-line option thanks to holding a second first-rounder, and Ioane should remain on the board by No. 10. Kadyn Proctor and Spencer Fano, two tackle prospects who could slide to guard (joining Mauigoa in that regard), also are believed to be on the Giants’ radar, per La Canfora.
Wide receiver should also be considered a factor for the Giants, especially at No. 10. They have been linked closely to Carnell Tate and Jordyn Tyson, and ESPN.com’s Dan Grazino adds more fuel to the Tyson-to-New York fire by noting the team indeed is fond of the injury-prone Arizona State talent. Tyson has been one of the pre-draft process’ late climbers, as his recent workout showcased upside Tate may not carry. Tate is viewed as a safer prospect, however.
Another scenario for New York may feature Tyson at 10 — if he is still available — but Caleb Downs over Styles at 5, with Graziano adding multiple sources have informed him the Giants would be likely to take the ex-Buckeyes safety over the linebacker if both are available. Downs has been linked to the Giants for weeks, and the Ravens certainly valued the safety position — from Ed Reed to Eric Weddle to Earl Thomas to Kyle Hamilton — under Harbaugh.
A wrench in this plan exists at running back, though. Interest in Jeremiyah Love could prompt the Giants to table a defensive pick and go for the dual-threat Notre Dame RB prospect, with Graziano noting Love will be squarely in play — perhaps even over Downs — if he’s still available at 5. Some in the Giants’ building are holding out hope for Love at 5, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, with ESPN colleague Jordan Raanan finding it difficult to envision the team passing. Love would mark the organization’s second top-five RB investment in nine years. A Saquon Barkley ceiling is uncertain here, but teams have been rewarded for recent first-round RB picks — as possible 2023 extension recipients Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs highlight.
While Fowler also points to the Giants closely eyeing an O-line upgrade at No. 10 in the event Downs is the pick at 5 — mentioning Fano and Ioane — EssentiallySports.com’s Tony Pauline offers more on the receiver front. A concern exists Malik Nabers may not be 100% by Week 1, and Pauline goes as far as to say the Giants “will” use the No. 10 choice on a receiver.
Short-term Nabers concerns would not be a great reason to make a long-term WR investment with such a high pick, though if Tyson or Tate ends up being higher on New York’s board compared to Fano or Ioane, pairing Nabers with one of them makes sense. Tate may be unlikely to fall past New Orleans at No. 8, however. Pauline also cites a source close to Ioane who believes No. 10 might be a bit early for the draft’s top guard prospect to go.
Trading down would represent another route here, and we heard the Giants were open to moving back from No. 5 a bit ago. The New York Post’s Ryan Dunleavy hears the Giants would be willing to make a small move back from No. 5 to obtain more Day 2 capital. New York traded its third-round pick to climb up for Jaxson Dart last year. A scenario in which the Cardinals take Love at No. 3 leaving the Titans with a Styles-or-EDGE selection could accelerate Giants trade talks, and either Bailey or Reese remaining on the board at 5 could prompt a trade-up — as the Giants are not in need of OLB help.
As if we aren’t deep enough in this web — big night, Giants fans — Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer is iffy the Giants would use the No. 5 pick on Downs. But the veteran insider confirms the team’s interest in Tyson (who dined with Schoen while the latter was in town for his workout). No. 5 might not even be too high for Tyson, though that would be higher than expected.
The Giants view Tyson as “so dynamic,” Glazer adds. He posted a 1,100-yard season in 2022 but has suffered major knee and collarbone injuries prior to multiple bouts with hamstring trouble. Odell Beckham Jr. comparisons have also emerged here. Were Tyson to become a Giant, a Beckham reunion may not come to pass.
Some Teams Prefer Jordyn Tyson’s Upside To Carnell Tate’s; Giants, Jets Showing Interest
One of the top storylines during the late runup to the draft covers the wide receiver position. It no longer appears a given Carnell Tate will be the first wideout chosen this year.
Residing as a fairly high-floor option, Tate did not operate as Ohio State’s No. 1 wide receiver during his time in Columbus. This is due to the presence of standout Jeremiah Smith, who is a candidate to be a top-five pick in 2027. But some teams prefer Jordyn Tyson‘s upside to Tate’s at the receiver spot, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer notes.
Breer does view most teams as having Tate as this class’ top wideout prospect; we have heard the Saints (No. 8) as a potential floor for the ex-Buckeyes talent, with the Titans, Giants and Commanders being connected as well. Several teams in the top 10, however, like Tyson, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport. Tyson, who battled injuries during his college career and amid the draft leadup, performed positional drills for teams at a workout last week. That audition drew extensive attention, with Giants GM Joe Schoen among those making the trip for the showcase.
As our Ely Allen noted last week, Tyson had been viewed as the class’ top wideout at a previous juncture. But injuries have dinged his stock. Tyson suffered ACL, MCL and PCL tears while at Colorado before sustaining a broken collarbone during a 2024 comeback season. He played nine games last year due to hamstring injuries, with that issue coming up during the pre-draft process as well. Tyson shined before the collarbone break in 2024, however, totaling 1,101 receiving yards and 10 touchdown receptions.
The Giants obtained a second first-round pick via the Dexter Lawrence trade. Holding Nos. 5 and 10, New York could land both a defender and wide receiver. It might be a bit of a skill-position overcommitment for the Giants to go Jeremiyah Love at No. 5 and a receiver at 10, but if Big Blue opts for defense at 5, teams may be leery of them pouncing on Tyson at 10. On that note, SNY’s Connor Hughes mocks the Jets trading up to No. 9 for Tyson, who is believed to be the top receiver on Gang Green’s board.
Smokescreen warnings are obvious at this time of the year, but we heard previously the Jets had first-round grades on just three WRs — Tate, Tyson and Washington’s Denzel Boston. Ely mocked Boston to New York at No. 16, but PFR’s mock draft did not include trades. It is quite possible the Jets — who hold four picks in the first two rounds — could be aggressive to move up for a player they like in a maligned draft class.
The Giants’ Tyson interest is “well known,” per Hughes, who adds the Jets have held exploratory conversations about what it would take to climb up for a receiver. Tyson falling to No. 16 served as a previous Jets hope, per Hughes, but Rapoport now views it as likelier the 6-foot-2 pass catcher goes off the board in the top 10. Indiana’s Omar Cooper Jr. sits second at the position on some teams’ boards, per Breer, providing considerable intrigue as to the order this receiver class comes off the board.
Tate did not produce a 900-yard receiving season, playing as Smith’s sidekick. Tyson flashed brightly with the Sun Devils but could not shake injury trouble. That represents the main reason why there is a debate on this year’s first receiver off the board, as Tyson would likely occupy that spot were he cleaner from a health perspective. Will Tate’s safer prospect profile outflank Tyson’s higher ceiling Thursday night?
WR Draft Notes: Branch, Tate, Tyson
A week after some controversial draft reporting opened up discussions on journalistic ethics, another story was reported this afternoon concerning the arrest of another high-projected draft pick. An uncredited ESPN report disclosed today that Georgia wide receiver Zachariah Branch was arrested late-Saturday night/early-Sunday morning on two possible misdemeanor charges.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero quickly followed up the report describing the situation as Branch being “arrested while standing on a public sidewalk for not moving far enough when a police officer asked him to move.” Pelissero’s version of events comes from a copy of the police report of the incident. The report describes Branch as a male who “continued to stand on the sidewalk without making an attempt to move.” It goes on to say that, upon receiving commands and threats of citation, Branch “smirked” and “stepped backwards and to the right” but “remained standing upon the public sidewalk.”
The officer placed him under arrest for “misdemeanor Obstruction of LEO and (he) received a citation for Obstructing Public Sidewalks.” Mike Garafolo, also of NFL Network, reached out to a few teams’ personnel departments, and while some claimed they would do the requisite research on it over the next few days, it ultimately “doesn’t sound like it’ll be something that affects Zachariah Branch’s draft prospects greatly, if at all.”
Here are a couple other rumors concerning wide receivers in the 2026 NFL Draft:
- According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate is widely viewed as the draft class’s “safest pick.” Per Fowler, he’s projected solidly in the range of pick Nos. 4-7. His pedigree, polished route-running, and good but not great top speed are all attributes that secure him as the potential WR1, but he may not be considered the most talented at his position.
- Fowler went on to mention the recent rise of Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson, after his recent workout this week. Tyson showed all of the explosive, twitchy athleticism in that workout that scouts know he is capable of, but his injury history persists as a potential concern for his future durability. Still, Fowler claims multiple teams have Tyson ranked as the best wide receiver of the draft class, but he only connected Tyson to teams picking around Nos. 7-10, meaning he might end up being WR2.
Arizona State WR Jordyn Tyson’s Workout Draws Major Interest
APRIL 18: Garafolo and colleague Ian Rapoport report Schoen had dinner with Tyson the night before his workout. That further illustrates the team’s level of interest in this case, and the Dexter Lawrence trade will give New York another top-10 pick to work with next week. Tyson winding up with the Giants on Thursday will be a possibility to watch closely as the first round unfolds.
APRIL 17: Today, Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson held his long-awaited personal workout at which NFL general managers, coaches, and scouts were able to evaluate his health following months of inactivity as he dealt with hamstring issues. According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, the workout was a huge hit, drawing eyes from over 20 NFL teams just six days out from the first day of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Tyson was once viewed as the likely WR1 of the draft class, but frequent injuries have littered his résumé with red flags. The transfer from Colorado tore his ACL, MCL, and PCL during his time with the Buffaloes then suffered a broken collarbone after his 2024 comeback season. He played only nine games this past year due to the hamstring issues that have hampered him throughout the pre-draft process, as well. His draft stock hasn’t fallen out of the first round, but fellow wide receiver prospects Carnell Tate and Makai Lemon have seemingly moved ahead of him in the WR1 conversation.
As anticipation built this morning, ESPN’s Jordan Raanan recirculated a video of his interview with colleague Peter Schrager in which Schrager predicted that a clean workout today could help land Tyson in the No. 5 overall pick, currently owned by the Giants. Supporting that prediction, New York’s general manager, Joe Schoen, flew in himself to be in person at Tyson’s workout, per Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. The Giants have been tied to numerous options with the fifth pick of the draft, almost all of which, Schrager points out, are at positions not usually valued that early in the first round — running back (Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love), off-ball linebacker (Ohio State’s Sonny Styles), and safety (Ohio State’s Caleb Downs).
Similar to how those positions are usually valued, Tyson has not been projected to go that high lately. The Giants have been one of several teams reportedly interested in participating in first-round trades out of the fifth pick, and they may be looking to move back to a point in the first round in which they feel they can still land Tyson. ESPN’s Matt Miller predicted we could see as many as eight trades, at the same time positing that Tyson could go much higher than expected, placing his range from the fifth overall pick to the 16th.
Additionally, the Giants weren’t the only team to send a GM. Peter Thamel of ESPN reported that the Dolphins‘ contingency included new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan. A source told Thamel, “(Tyson) showed the twitch, explosiveness, and leaping ability we all saw in the fall. He showed he’s healthy and still explosive, which is all he needed to do.”
According to Bleacher Report’s James Palmer, Tyson’s elite talent had attendants abuzz with excitement and curiosity. The 21-year-old reportedly drew comparisons to Odell Beckham Jr. and Justin Jefferson, but concerns of his injury history drove speculation that “a lack of strength” may be the culprit. He went on to assert that there is no real consensus on Tyson at the moment. This was supported by Miller’s assertion that, contrary to Palmer’s reports of concerned speculation, “teams are comfortable with the (injury) history” of the ASU product.
We won’t need to wait long to find out just how concerned teams are or just how high he will go in the draft. He’ll almost certainly be a Day 1 pick, so by next Thursday, we should know whether today’s workout was enough to vault him back to WR1 status.