Jordyn Tyson is ready for his moment. The Arizona State wide receiver will take the field for his pro day workout on Friday, delivering the performance that NFL scouts, including those from the Kansas City Chiefs, had circled on their calendars for weeks.
After sitting out this year's Scouting Combine with a hamstring injury, Tyson took to the field to alleviate concerns about his hamstring in a temporary measure, but to also remind everyone of his explosive skill set in the wake of ongoing injury concerns. According to Adam Schefter, 18 NFL teams will attend the workout, shaping up more than half of all draft boards before the big event.
Why Tyson's workout matters
Tyson's pre-draft process has been a difficult one for the young wideout. The hamstring injury that sidelined him this spring came on the heels of a broken collarbone that cut short his 2024 postseason. That came after a sophomore season wiped out entirely by a torn ACL, MCL, and PCL. For a prospect potentially viewed as the most talented receiver in this entire class, Tyson's injury history has been impossible to ignore.
Despite the health concerns, NFL analyst Peter Schrager, who seems solidly connected with the Chiefs' organization, still connected Tyson to K.C. at No. 9 overall in his latest mock draft. Schrager isn't the only one. ESPN legend Mel Kiper Jr. released his fourth and final mock draft earlier this week and came to the same conclusion.
When Schrager explained the pick on The Pat McAfee Show, he laid out just how polarizing Tyson's stock is around the league. One general manager told him he doesn't think Tyson goes inside the draft's top 20 picks. A different GM was surprised that he'd even be available at nine. That's a remarkable spread, yet it's understandable given the health questions that Friday's workout was designed to address.
Tyson's also battling a toughness narrative
Some of the chatter surrounding Tyson hasn't been limited to injury history alone. Questions have crept in about his toughness, a charge that his ASU wide receivers coach Hines Ward isn't willing to let stand.
Ward recently told reporters the story of Tyson's final college game, when the receiver popped his hamstring in the third quarter. Ward tried to pull him. Tyson refused, telling his coach it might be his last college game and he wanted to do everything he could for his teammates. He then led the Sun Devils on a late drive to win the game.
Tyson's workout shortly before the draft will also give the WR a chance to address any final concerns or at least get in a last word in the wake of such conversations.
What this means for the Chiefs
Yes, the Chiefs are in a position to address other needs with their first top-10 pick in over a decade. They could go cornerback, safety, or edge rusher and no one would blink. But it's also a premium opportunity to get a game-changing weapon for Patrick Mahomes at a critical moment for this offense.
The Chiefs' wide receiver room isn't exactly imposing. There are reasons for both hope and concern when looking at Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy, and Tyquan Thornton, so the ability to add a bigger, more explosive playmaker like Tyson would elevate the entire offense. Any potential pick of Tyson would also lay a cornerstone for a future without Travis Kelce and Rice.
Over his final two college seasons, Tyson put up 136 catches, 1,812 receiving yards, and 18 touchdowns. The Chiefs would love to add a player of his stature and skill set, but everything comes down to his availability. A single workout won't erase his injury history, but he can at least show that he's healthy and ready to go at the present moment, while reminding scouts of everything he's capable of.
Add us as a preferred source on Google