It’s clear the New Orleans Saints have made a concerted effort to surround second year quarterback Tyler Shough with more skill positions talent. With an emphasis on elevating the offense to the next level, New Orleans finds itself in a prime spot at No. 8 overall to select a wide receiver who can make an immediate impact and further accelerate Shough’s development.
While addressing other options certainly isn’t off the table at number 8, the momentum in many projections continues to point to wide receiver. The Saints have frequently been mocked to select a pass catcher in several draft scenarios, giving the idea that adding another dynamic weapon for Shough is a priority.
Holding the number eight pick, the Saints could find themselves facing a pivotal decision at wide receiver, in a draft class loaded with first round talent, including polished prospects like Cornell Tate., and high upside playmakers such as Jordyn Tyson. With multiple impact options likely available, New Orleans will have to decide between immediate reliability and longterm upside as they continue building around Shough.
Jordyn Tyson headlines wide receiver class, but The New Orleans Saints may opt for safer bet
Many NFL experts consider Jordyn Tyson as the top wide receiver in the 2026 draft class, possessing the highest upside of any prospect at the position. He offers true versatility with the ability to play inside and outside, showcasing natural route running instincts, and excellent 50-50 ball skills. Tyson put up an impressive junior and senior campaign, totaling 136 catches for 1,812 yards, and 19 touchdowns. His elite play earned him two First Team All Conference honors.
His time at Arizona State was highly productive and helped establish himself as a standout receiver, but his overall resume is accompanied by injury history during both his earlier tenure at the University of Colorado and later at Arizona State. While he showed consistent high level production when healthy, those injuries are apart of his evaluation and will hold weight along with his production.
Tyson’s explosiveness and ball skills would give the Saints a dynamic one-two punch alongside Chris Olave, creating a pairing that could stress defenses at every level. When factoring his injury history, New Orleans may hesitate to take on that level of risk. If the front office prioritizes longterm reliability and durability, they could possibly lean toward selecting a safer receiver prospect over the higher upside gamble.
The next obvious choice would be Carnell Tate. If it isn't Tyson, Tate is typically the receiver discussed as the best of class. Tate isn't just a safer selection. He's a talented receiver in his own right. For many, he's the more polished prospect, and he'd be a strong complement to Olave's skillset.
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