The Rams have been linked to receivers throughout the draft process and the player that they get connected to the most often by far is USC’s Makai Lemon. But if Jordyn Tyson drops out of the top-10, does he become the most underrated receiver of the class? If L.A. is able to add Tyson to their offense, that gives Matthew Stafford three weapons at the position unlike any quarterback in the NFL, including Joe Burrow.
ESPN’s Matt Miller tweeted on Friday that Tyson “goes much earlier than expected” and that teams are comfortable with his injury history, which includes a torn up left knee in 2022 (ACL, MCL, and PCL) and multiple injuries that caused him to miss games throughout his college career.
Tyson played 33 games in four years between Colorado and Arizona State, and 12 of those games came in 2024. He’s been dealing with a hamstring injury for months.
Advertisement
But ESPN’s Peter Schrager posited that if Tyson had a clean workout in front of teams and dispelled injury concerns that he could be drafted by the Giants fifth overall. That speaks to how highly teams and scouts and analysts think of Tyson’s abilities when healthy.
Tyson’s most productive season came in 2024, catching 75 passes for 1,101 yards on a shockingly good Sun Devils team. He had 711 yards and 8 touchdowns in 9 games last year.
At 6’2, 203 lbs, Tyson has the size, but does he have the speed? He couldn’t do any drills at the combine.
Adam Schefter noted that 18 teams attended his workout. Surely the Rams would want to know how that went, if not being one of the 18 teams.
Dr. David Chao isn’t too concerned with his history either, noting that “hamstrings heal”. His knee injury was four years ago and many players are living with repaired ACLs.
That being said, Tyson’s injury could cause his stock to drop to the Rams at 13, at which point he might be a better value than any other prospect.
Advertisement
The Athletic’s Dane Brugler writes in his The Beast draft guide that Tyson is “not a burner” anyway and wins routes with “Wow” catches and creating separation with versatility to play inside or outside. He likens him to Stefon Diggs:
“Though he doesn’t have elite speed, Tyson is plenty fast, using quickness to avoid press and route acceleration to stress coverage. Despite having only average size and strength, he is competitive in a crowd and contorts his body to make “wow” catches. (He also lowered his drop rate from 8.5 percent in 2024 to 1.6 percent in ‘25.) Loosey-goosey route steps get him in trouble at times, and savvy NFL corners will learn his tricks. Overall, Tyson’s injury history is concerning, but on the field, he is a sleek, twitched-up athlete who can create his own separation and win outside his frame at the catch point. He projects as an NFL starter (inside or outside), with a skill set that reminds me of Stefon Diggs.“
In that regard, with a quarterback like Stafford, Tyson might fit immediately into an offense with Puka Nacua and Davante Adams.
If the Rams have to move forward without Puka because of his contract demands or off-field issues, Tyson might be just the right guy to replace his targets … or if Puka stays, to complement him as an outside weapon.
At pick 13, we’d have a situation where Jordyn Tyson is arguably the most underrated WR of the first round because Schrager is saying he’s got a top-5 ceiling. If he goes to the Giants at 5, Tyson is arguably overrated.
Advertisement
Would you rather the Rams get any of these receivers instead?
Carnell Tate, Ohio State
Though he won’t go this high, Daniel Jeremiah said Tate’s ceiling was pick 2 to the Jets.
Makai Lemon, USC
Ian Rapoport thinks Lemon is WR3 and goes around pick 15. Most mocks have him to the Rams.
KC Concepcion, Texas A&M
Often cited at WR4, Concepcion is considered a first round lock. Should the Rams trade down and get him at 20-25?
Omar Cooper, Indiana
Here you’ve got a national champion and Matt Miller thinks he’s going to go on day 1. Cooper has been called “Rams-y” before.
Denzel Boston, Washington
If Boston is on the border of the first round, some would say that makes him the most underrated because there’s a belief he’s a top-3 receiver in the class and it’s just not known yet.
The Rams almost certainly wouldn’t pick any of the guys not in the top-3 at pick 13, but you never know. And sliding down is probably Les Snead’s preference if he can find a trade partner anyway.
Advertisement
However, if the Rams see Tyson, Tate, or Lemon on the board at 13, maybe they won’t want to move. Jordyn Tyson’s injury history has set him back, but he can’t be counted out.
Read the full article here