With the 2026 NFL Draft closing in, the conversation around Jordyn Tyson is taking shape. No, it isn’t a jab at his talent. He’s talented enough.
But as Arizona State wide receivers coach Hines Ward mentioned in the latest interview, it’s all business at the end of the day. That’s where things have started to shift.
Hines Ward Dismisses the ‘Toughness’ Narrative Around Jordyn Tyson
Ward was pretty blunt while addressing the growing criticism around Tyson, particularly the idea that he lacks physicality.
“Wherever God wants him to be, man, it’s going to be. And of course, I’m a little biased, of course, the black and gold, but I’m excited just to see whatever. And I tell all the scouts and all the teams, whatever team ends up drafting him, you’re going to get a winner. I know the work that he’s put into it.
“I chuckle sometimes because they try to write the narrative that he’s not physical and stuff like that. And JT would call me from time to time like, man, that’s crazy. I say, listen, that’s one thing about the NFL, it’s a business. Anything that they can do to get you at a cheaper rate, trust me, they’re going to do it. They’re going to talk bad about you. I can guarantee you they would love to draft you as cheap as possible. I mean, he’s a first-round talent.”
From Ward’s perspective, some of the pre-draft chatter has less to do with football and more to do with leverage.
It makes sense. Cut the stocks, then draft a real talent as a “steal”; that’s a manufactured flex.
Ward further discussed Tyson’s injury history, offering context that often gets lost in surface-level evaluations.
“There’s a fluke injury with his collarbone, like three guys fell on him. The hamstring, that happens at the wide receiver position. But what I found out about JT and the guts that he had to come back, the resiliency to come back in that Texas Tech game, when he popped it in the third quarter, I tried to pull him out. And a lot of scouts didn’t know the story.
“He’s like, ‘Coach, man, I love my brothers. I don’t know what’s going to happen. If this is going to be my last game, I want to do all I can, even if I can’t run the route.’ And he single-handedly, on that last drive, led us all the way down and helped us win that game. And that’s where I learned a lot about JT’s toughness and who he is as a person.”
That moment, according to Ward, defined Tyson far more than any scouting report ever could. The zeal to push! The young WR won half the battle then and there.
“It sounded a lot like myself as a player. I didn’t want to come out of the game. So I don’t know, people questioning JT’s toughness and stuff, I just laugh at it, because I’ve been with him on a day-to-day basis. I’ve seen him go through practice. I’ve seen him try to come back from injuries ahead of time. If we beat Texas in the bowl game the following week, he’s playing in that game. A lot of scouts didn’t know that.
“I’m super excited about this opportunity. I can’t wait to see what happens on draft weekend for all our guys, not just JT. I think we’re bringing some guys, some players here on our roster that can play at the next level. So I’m super excited to see where everybody ends up.”
From a production standpoint, Tyson delivered when available. In 2025, he recorded 61 receptions on 97 targets for 711 yards, earning a B- grade with an 81.2 score in PFSN’s CFB WR Impact Metrics despite missing time due to injury.
So, one can see why there’s still belief in him to go as a first-rounder. Former All-Pro cornerback Aqib Talib is among those who remain even higher on Tyson.
Talib pointed to his route-running, movement skills, and ability after the catch as traits that consistently translate, while viewing injuries as part of the game rather than a defining flaw.
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He said, “The number one guy to me is Jordyn Tyson. The shiftiness, the releases, the routes, the rocker steps at the top of routes… If I’m watching all three of these guys… I’m gonna say, Jordyn Tyson.”
And that’s where the divide sits heading into draft night. Some see risk, while others see a polished, high-end receiver with an upside. A guy whose toughness has already been tested more than most. Ward, for one, has made it clear which side he’s on.
