Tyson Positioned for the No. 2 Role
The Saints saw enough to draft Jordyn Tyson eighth overall as the No. 2 WR behind Carnell Tate.
He joins a corps led by Chris Olave, who’s coming off a career-best 2025. Olave delivered 100 catches, 1,163 yards, and 9 TDs, all of which ranked top-8 among WRs.
The WR room lacks proven talent behind Olave, though. New Orleans traded Rashid Shaheed in the middle of last season, leaving former undrafted free agent Devaughn Vele to finish third among Saints WRs with 25 catches across 13 games. (Shaheed ranked second despite leaving after nine games.)
Bryce Lance brings the size, athleticism, and college production to make him worth monitoring. But Lance could need time to adjust coming out of North Dakota State, and we don’t expect him to threaten Tyson’s volume.
Tyson steps into a clear No. 2 WR projection with a 19.8% target share, ahead of TE Juwan Johnson at 15.0%. Johnson broke out in 2025 -- helped by a shallow WR room -- but his 3.6 targets per game from 2021-2024 suggest he’s better cast in a complementary role.
Tyson’s tape also points to early trust and usage. Our prospect guru Shane Hallam highlighted the wideout’s advanced feel for zone coverage and ability to win at the catch point.
Tyler Shough ... Breakout Candidate?
Tyson joins an offense led by second-year QB Tyler Shough. Nine starts isn’t enough to make any firm declarations, but Shough’s early sample offered reasons for optimism.
Among 42 QBs with 150+ attempts, the rookie ranked:
- 11th in completion rate
- 11th in catchable throw rate
- 13th in yards per attempt
Expect the Saints to Lean Pass
This staff created plenty of passing volume last season, ranking fifth in pass rate, fifth in neutral pass rate, and sixth in total pass attempts. They also played fast, finishing first in pace and situation-neutral pace and 11th in total plays.
That type of approach bodes well for Tyson’s rookie-year production.
Paths to Ceiling
Beyond the coaching setup, Tyson’s outlook will get a boost if Shough improves. The age is worth noting, with Shough turning 27 in September. But his nine starts gave us enough encouraging flashes to expect some Year 2 growth.
Tyson also has a real shot to beat his target-share projection. Olave’s concussion history remains concerning, with five documented head injuries, a post-2024 retirement consideration, and an eight-game absence after his latest concussion in November 2024.
Risk Factors
Tyson has the profile to matter right away, but we shouldn’t ignore the rookie WR hit rate. Since 2016, only 13 of 44 Round 1 WRs have reached 12.0 PPR points per game. That’s around mid-range WR3 production, which matches Tyson’s current price. Among the 13 WRs who reached 12.0 PPR points per game, only Jordan Addison and Calvin Ridley ranked second on their teams in targets.
Of course, there’s also the durability issue with Tyson. He missed 34% of his games over the past four seasons and dealt with a hamstring injury during the predraft process.