New Orleans Saints draft Jordyn Tyson No. 8 overall

By Ross Jackson

METAIRIE,La. — The New Orleans Saints have made their first selection of the 2026 NFL Draft, adding a major weapon on the offensive side of the ball. 

At No. 8 overall, New Orleans selected Arizona State WR Jordyn Tyson. 

 The Saints defied pre-draft trade rumors to make the selection, sticking with their previously scheduled draft position. In doing so, they were surprisingly able to land a player consistently considered the top wide receiver in this year’s draft.

The Arizona State wideout is not as clean a prospect from an injury angle as expected following general manager Mickey Loomis’s comments during his Wednesday press conference.

The 2026 First-Team All-Big 12 wideout gathered 158 career receptions for 2,282 receiving yards and 22 touchdown catches in 24 starting appearances.

He now joins the Saints’ wide receiver room that includes top wideouts Chris Olave and Devaughn Vele, giving quarterback Tyler Shough a very strong wide receiver corps to start in 2026.

The biggest question around Tyson will be his injury history. He was sidelined for much of the pre-draft process, but clearly New Orleans feels comfortable with his evaluation coming into the league. If he’s healthy, he can quickly help to transcend the Saints’ offense to an entirely new level.

New Orleans is not set to pick again until Friday with two selections in Day 2. The team holds the No. 42 overall pick in the second round and the No. 73 overall selection in the third.