Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson has a chance to become the first wide receiver taken in the 2026 NFL Draft if he puts together a season like the one he had last year.

According to ESPN’s Matt Miller, the top WR in the draft class is going to come down to Tyson and USC junior Makai Lemon.

Tyson snagged 75 passes for 1,101 yards before his season was cut short by a collarbone injury that sidelined him for the Big 12 Championship and College Football Playoff game against Texas. His final eight games paced the nation in receiving yards (889) and touchdowns (nine) over that span, per PFF.

A second year with quarterback Sam Leavitt at the helm should bring Tyson’s skill set to the forefront of the offense more, especially without running back Cam Skattebo.

There should be more of an emphasis to get Tyson the ball as one the most talented skill players on the team.

There are multiple candidates to be that player, and the discussion starts with Tyson, thanks to his skills and the situation around him. At 6-1 and 195 pounds, Tyson is a downfield burner who caught 75 passes for 1,101 yards and 10 touchdowns from quarterback Sam Leavitt.

What Jordyn Tyson needs to clean up

The only issue Miller found with Tyson’s game is drops.

He had seven drops last season and that could plunge his value to NFL scouts.

“Tyson makes the hardest catches look easy and the easiest catches look hard,” a rival Big 12 coach told Miller. “He has legit NFL talent, first-round talent even, but that’s my holdup on proclaiming him a first-round guy.”

Where will he go in the draft?

While wide receivers have been climbing up NFL draft boards in recent years, this draft could see the position group take a step back.

“If you believe we’ve been in a golden era of wide receiver prospects, I won’t argue. But after seeing another pass catcher drafted in the top 10 last year (Tetairoa McMillan at No. 8), we might get a break from elite wideouts in 2026, barring a major breakout season,” Miller says.

The 2025 ASU football season kicks off Aug. 30 against Northern Arizona in Tempe.