TEMPE, Ariz. — Jordyn Tyson bounced around Arizona State’s pro day Friday in a light gray hoodie and darker shorts, mingling with a host of NFL teams in attendance.
The receiver didn’t work out — teams arrived knowing that was unlikely — but Tyson still had a strong presence. He informed teams his hamstrings should be in good enough shape by April 17, when he plans to hold a private workout on campus and drive home his standing as a Round 1 selection.
That will be the true test, according to team executives. While they hoped to see Tyson run Friday, they understood the strategy behind his decision to defer. These pro day workouts are surely important segments of the draft evaluation, but they’re also voluntary marketing campaigns — prospects aren’t going to participate in events that don’t help their case.
Tyson has dealt with injuries to both hamstrings since last season, so teams want to have a clear understanding of his long-term viability in the league considering the investment it will take to draft him. Ohio State’s Carnell Tate is most frequently viewed as the top wideout in the class due to his 6-foot-3 frame and polished playmaking ability, but Tyson and USC’s Makai Lemon aren’t far behind. Because the three have distinct playing styles, executives believe teams could have different draft rankings depending on preference.
That’s why it will be so important for Tyson to check out favorably next month. He didn’t test at the combine because he wasn’t at full strength, informing some teams that he didn’t have enough time after the season to get fully healthy to train for a 40-yard dash. And after a minor setback this month, Tyson’s timeline hit another snag.
To be clear, several team sources told The Athletic they don’t believe Tyson has a chronic hamstring problem. But they do want to have a better understanding of his conditioning, nutrition and hydration habits to prepare for his integration into the NFL. If he was overlooking certain details at ASU, NFL teams need to recognize how to curb any concerns with lingering injuries. Teams have gotten feedback that Arizona State wide receivers coach Hines Ward, a former Pittsburgh Steelers star, has helped Tyson with his maturation into becoming a pro.
However, Tyson also tore his ACL in 2022 and broke his collarbone in 2024, so the hamstring is hardly a one-off concern, especially since it’s still coming up. But with his quickness and acceleration, plus an ability to separate in his routes with efficient footwork and to contort his body to play the ball in the air, teams are tantalized by his potential.
If Tyson did run Friday, it’s not like teams had unrealistic expectations. They were hoping for a time in the 4.4s to marry up with his playing speed on tape, which appears better than in a test setting. Aside from the injury concerns, teams also want to check how his weight matches with his 6-foot-2 frame, as some believed he looked sturdier in person than expected.
Midway through the pro day, Tyson spent about 15 minutes with a New York Giants party that included general manager Joe Schoen, head coach John Harbaugh and former Sun Devils teammate Cam Skattebo. While the Giants almost certainly won’t be taking Tyson at No. 5, they could be viewed as more of a factor if they trade down.
The Atlanta Falcons also had a significant presence, including general manager Ian Cunningham, coach Kevin Stefanski and president of football operations Matt Ryan. Chicago Bears GM Ryan Poles and assistant general manager Jeff King were also present. The New England Patriots were well represented with head coach Mike Vrabel and executive Ryan Cowden, though Vrabel took a keen — and hands-on — interest in offensive tackle Max Iheanachor, a fringe first-rounder. Arizona Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort and a large scouting contingent from his staff were there, too.
As one of the three best receivers in the class, Tyson is a strong candidate to go in the top 20, and there are teams that believe a top-15 selection is in play. But if Tyson doesn’t deliver at his private workout in April, he could slide into the second wave of wideouts, thus making his draft projection far more complicated. But as the crowd dispersed, the general feeling from teams was that they were far more excited to see Tyson test April 17 than they were remorseful over his Friday’s inactivity.