Former Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson significantly boosted his draft stock with an explosive performance during a high-stakes private workout in Tempe on Friday, April 17. Tyson, who was unable to participate in drills at the NFL Draft Combine or Arizona State’s Pro Day due to a lingering hamstring injury, showcased his health in front of representatives from 20 NFL teams, including the New York Giants and Miami Dolphins.
According to reports from the workout, Tyson ran 20–25 routes and recorded only one drop, proving his trademark “twitch” and vertical leaping ability are fully intact. Despite being considered a premier prospect in a 2026 class alongside USC’s Makai Lemon and Ohio State’s Carnell Tate, Tyson’s extensive medical file has made him one of the most polarizing figures of the pre-draft cycle.
Former NFL GM Raises Jordyn Tyson Red Flags
During Friday’s segment of the “89” podcast with Steve Smith Sr., former Raiders general manager Mike Mayock weighed in on Tyson’s checkered injury history. Mayock emphasized that while Tyson’s talent is undeniably first-round caliber, his durability requires a specialized organizational approach.
“Jordyn Tyson, he’s sexy as all hell, you can move him around anywhere,” Mayock said. “Soft tissue this year, collarbone last year, ACL the year before. The best predictor of future medical performance is past medical performance. He’s got a history of not showing up a lot and that’s an issue. It doesn’t mean he’s not going in the first round, because he is.”
Mayock urged interested teams to prepare a rigorous support system for the young wideout. “You’ve gotta have a medical plan for that kid. You better have massage therapists and nutritionists and all kinds of stuff ready to help him stay as healthy as possible.” Tyson’s history includes a multi-ligament knee tear at Colorado in 2022, a fractured clavicle in 2024, and the hamstring issues that hampered his 2025 season.
Former Super Bowl Winner Dismisses Tyson Concerns
In an interview following the Sun Devils’ final spring session, ASU wide receivers coach Hines Ward dismissed the “fragile” narrative surrounding his star pupil. Ward, a two-time Super Bowl champion known for his own legendary toughness, argued that the NFL’s business side often amplifies injury concerns to drive down a player’s market value.
“I chuckle sometimes because they try to write the narrative he’s not physical,” Ward said. “When he popped it [his hamstring] in the third quarter, I tried to pull him out. A lot of scouts didn’t know the story. He said, ‘Coach, I love my brothers … if this is gonna be my last game, I want to do all I can.’ He single-handedly on that last drive led us all the way and helped us win the game.”
Despite missing several games last year, Tyson earned a PFSN College Wide Receiver Impact score of 81.2. He finished his final season with 61 receptions for 711 yards and eight touchdowns, cementing his status as a projected top-16 pick heading into Thursday’s draft in Pittsburgh, where Ward will accompany him to the green room.
